Azipod

Azipod is the registered brand name of the ABB Group for their azimuth thruster. Originally developed in Finland by Wärtsilä dockyards, these are marine propulsion units consisting of electrically driven propellers mounted on a steerable pod.

The pod's propeller usually faces forward, as in this puller (or tractor) configuration, the propeller is more efficient. In addition, because it can rotate around its mount axis, the pod can apply its thrust force in any direction. Azimuth thrusters allow ships to be more maneuverable and enable them to travel backward nearly as easily as they can travel forward. The Azipod concept is not practical for use on warships because of damage control difficulties; integrating propulsion with rudder makes both easier to damage or destroy.Fact|date=May 2008

The new CRP (Contra Rotating Propellers) Azipod places a counter rotating azipod propeller behind a fixed propeller achieving improved fuel economy.

Azipod concept

In the traditional azimuth propulsion system the (electric) motor is located inside the ship's hull and rotation is transferred to the propeller through a gearbox. In the Azipod system the electric motor is installed inside the pod. The propeller is connected directly to the motor shaft. No gearbox is required, thus providing greater efficiency.

Electric power for the Azipod motor is conducted through slip rings that allow the Azipod to turn through 360 degrees. Because fixed pitch propellers are used in Azipods, power for Azipod is always fed through a variable-frequency drive that allows speed control of the propulsion motor.

hips with Azipod thrusters

Cruise ships

*Carnival Corporation & plc
**Carnival Cruise Lines
*** "Carnival Miracle", 2004
*** "Carnival Legend", 2002
*** "Carnival Pride", 2001
*** "Carnival Spirit", 2001
*** MS "Paradise", 1998 [cite web |url=http://marinelog.com/DOCS/PRINT/mmipods.html |title=Podded Propulsion Systems |quote= As has been well publicized, not all has been smooth running for the Azipod. Last July [year is not stated] there was a malfunction in the propeller bearing system of one of the Azipod propulsion system onboard Carnival’s 1998-built Paradise. The ship, following the failure of the starboard Azipod unit, was drydocked immediately at Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), where the first ever repair to an Azipod system in a United States repair yard was carried out. |accessdate=2007-12-03 |publisher=Marinelog.com]
*** MS "Elation", 1998
** Costa Cruises
*** "Costa Mediterranea", 2003
*** "Costa Atlantica", 2000
**P&O
*** "Arcadia", 2005
*Royal Caribbean International (RCI)
**Oasis Class
*** "Oasis of the Seas", 2009
*** "Allure of the Seas", 2010
** Freedom Class
*** "Freedom of the Seas" 2005
*** "Liberty of the Seas" 2007
*** "Independence of the Seas" 2008
**"Voyager" Class
*** "Mariner of the Seas", 2003
*** "Navigator of the Seas", 2002
*** "Adventure of the Seas", 2001
*** "Explorer of the Seas", 2000
*** "Voyager of the Seas", 1999
** "Radiance" Class
*** "Jewel of the Seas", 2004
*** "Serenade of the Seas", 2003
*** "Brilliance of the Seas", 2002
*** "Radiance of the Seas", 2001
* Holland America Line (HAL)
** MS "Eurodam", 2008
** MS "Noordam", 2006
** MS "Westerdam", 2004
** MS "Oosterdam", 2003
** MS "Zuiderdam", 2002
** MS "Amsterdam", 2000
* Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)
** "Norwegian Gem", 2007
** "Norwegian Pearl", 2006
** "Norwegian Jade", 2005
** "Pride of America", 2004
** "Norwegian Jewel", 2004
** "Norwegian Dawn", 2002
** "Norwegian Star", 2001
* Hapag-Lloyd
** "Europa", 1999
* Cunard Line
** RMS "Queen Mary 2", 2004
** MS "Queen Victoria", 2006

Cargo Vessels

*Fortum Shipping Company
**MT "Tempera", 2002
**MT "Mastera", 2002

Ice Shuttle Tanker

*Sovcomflot
**"Vasily Dinkov", 2007

ee also

* A similar but competing product is the Rolls-Royce "Mermaid" azimuth thruster. [cite web |url=http://www.rolls-royce.com/marine/products/propulsion/electrical_pod/default.jsp |title=Electrical Pod |accessdate=2007-12-03 |publisher=Rolls Royce Marine] [Cite web |url=http://marinelog.com/DOCS/PRINT/mmipods2.html |title=Podded Propulsion |accessdate=2007-12-03 |quote=However, the Mermaid, too, has had its teething problems. In January [year not stated] , Celebrity Cruises announced yesterday that it was placing the ship Millennium in dry dock for two weeks to repair what it described as an “under-performing electric motor” in one of the ship’s two propulsion units. |publisher=Marinelog.com] This is the thruster on the "Queen Mary 2".
* Finnish Maritime Cluster

Notes

External links

* " [http://www.thrustmastertexas.com/products/fixedPoddedDrives.html" Thrustmaster has been building podded hydraulic drives for more than twenty years. They are available from 35 to 2,000 HP either with open propeller or with nozzle. They are available in steel or aluminum, depending on vessel hull material. They can be welded or bolted to the hull.
* [http://www.imionline.no/imidocs/90580P007%20CRP%20Azipod.pdf The CRP Azipod Propulsion Concept] IMI Online
* [http://www.abb.com/global/abbzh/abbzh251.nsf!OpenDatabase&db=/global/seitp/seitp161.nsf&v=17E96&e=us&m=100A&c=5DD2DF25570E7292C1256FE20036CDCD ABB site]
* [http://www.marineenginedigest.com/profiles/azipodmotors/zeusandips.htm Azipod propulsion for pleasurecraft]