October 24, 2016 (Helsinki, Finland) – ABB has been shortlisted for a prestigious maritime award for modernizing two vessels that will become the largest emission-free ferries in the world. ABB received the nomination in ‘The Energy Efficiency Solution Award’ category of the 2016 Ship Efficiency Awards for its work on Tycho Brahe and Aurora.
ABB will supply the complete power and propulsion systems for the two HH Ferries Group vessels, which will become the world´s largest emission-free electric ferries. The modernizations utilize turnkey ABB solutions including batteries, an energy storage control system and Onboard DC Grid technology. At both ends of the route ABB will supply the first automated shore-side charging stations using an ABB industrial robot, to optimize the connection time and therefore maximize the charging period.
“We are delighted to be shortlisted for the Ship Efficiency Award. We are providing innovative turnkey solutions that will help HH Ferries run its operations efficiently while at the same time cutting the environmental impact of the vessels,” said Marcus Högblom, Vice President of Global Sales, Passenger vessels and Azipod propulsion.
“We are very pleased that, together with ABB and in an innovative way, we have been able to create a new set up to retain our position as a highly efficient high capacity route,” says CEO Henrik Rørbæk, HH Ferries Group. “We invest responsibly in tomorrow’s technology solutions, leading towards a greener future to the benefit of our customers and the environment.”
Preparatory work has already begun on the two HH Ferries’ vessels whilst construction of the groundbreaking automated shore-side charging arm is also underway in Finland.
The two ferries will operate completely on battery power between Helsingør (Denmark) and Helsingborg (Sweden), a distance of approximately 4 km carrying more than 7.4 Million passengers and 1.8 million vehicles annually. The new battery solution will help lower total emissions across the fleet by more than 50 percent from the current four diesel operated vessels. The combined battery power of 8,320 kWh for the two ferries is the equivalent of 10,700 car batteries.
The SEK 300 million investment is co-financed with SEK 120 million by INEA, the EU’s executive agency for innovation and network.
About ABB
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. For more than four decades, ABB is writing the future of industrial digitalization. With more than 70 million devices connected through its installed base of more than 70,000 control systems across all customer segments, ABB is ideally positioned to benefit from the Energy and Fourth Industrial Revolution. With a heritage of more than 130 years, ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 135,000 employees. www.abb.com
About HH Ferries
HH Ferries Group (www.hhferriesgroup.com) owns the ferry route between Helsingborg and Helsingør, which is marketed under the trademark Scandlines Helsingborg-Helsingør. With departures every fifteen minutes and a travel time of 20 minutes, Scandlines Helsingborg-Helsingør fleet of four ferries transports up to 50,000 passengers and 9,000 cars as well as 1,600 buses and trucks across Øresund on a daily basis. HH Ferries does 50,000 single trips per year. In total, a distance equal to approximately five times around the globe.
About the Ship Efficiency Awards
Now in their third year, the Ship Efficiency Awards have become a sought after recognition of ship efficiency excellence with all entrants assessed on stringent judging criteria by a panel of expert, independent judges.http://bit.ly/ABBSEAwards
For more information please contact:
ABB Marine and Ports
Peter Lovegrove
Media Relations Manager
Tel. +47 409 04 294
peter.lovegrove@no.abb.com
