AZIPOD

'Azipod' is the registered brand name of the ABB Group for their azimuth thruster. 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 new CRP (Contra Rotating Propellers) Azipod places a counter rotating azipod propeller behind a fixed propeller achieving improved fuel economy.

Contents

Azipod concept

Ships with Azipod thrusters

Cruise ships

Cargo Vessels

See also

External links

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, which provides greater efficiency.
Electric power for the Azipod motor is lead through electric slip rings that will allow Azipod turn freely 360 degrees. Because fixed pitch propellers are used in Azipods, power for Azipod is always fed through variable-frequency drive that will allow accurate speed control of propulsion motor and also running direction can be changed.

Ships with Azipod thrusters

Cruise ships

★ Carnival Corporation & plc

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★ Carnival Cruise Lines

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★ Carnival Miracle, 2004

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★ Carnival Valor, 2004

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★ Carnival Legend, 2002

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★ Carnival Pride, 2001

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★ Carnival Spirit, 2001

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★ MS Elation, 1998

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★ MS Paradise, 1998

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★ Costa Cruises

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★ Costa Magica, 2004

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★ Costa Fortuna, 2003

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★ Costa Mediterranea, 2003

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★ Costa Atlantica, 2000

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★ P&O

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★ Arcadia, 2005

★ Royal Caribbean International (RCI)

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★ Freedom Class

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★ Freedom of the Seas 2005

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★ Liberty of the Seas 2007

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★ Voyager class

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★ Mariner of the Seas, 2003

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★ Navigator of the Seas, 2002

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★ Adventure of the Seas, 2001

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★ Explorer of the Seas, 2000

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★ Voyager of the Seas, 1999

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★ Radiance Class

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★ Jewel of the Seas, 2004

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★ Serenade of the Seas, 2003

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★ Brilliance of the Seas, 2002

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★ Radiance of the Seas, 2001

★ Holland America Line (HAL)

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★ MS Noordam,2005

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★ MS Westerdam, 2004

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★ MS Oosterdam, 2003

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★ MS Zuiderdam, 2002

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★ MS Amsterdam, 2000

★ Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

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★ Norwegian Gem, 2007

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★ Norwegian Pearl, 2006

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★ Pride of Hawaii, 2005

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★ Pride of America, 2004

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★ Norwegian Jewel, 2004

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★ Norwegian Dawn, 2002

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★ Norwegian Star, 2001

★ Hapag-Lloyd

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★ ''Europa'', 1999

★ Cunard Line

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★ ''Queen Victoria'', 2006

Cargo Vessels

★ Fortum Shipping Company

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★ MT Tempera, 2002

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★ MT Mastera, 2002

See also

★ A similar but competing product is the Rolls-Royce ''MerMaid'' azimuth thruster. [1] This is the thruster on the ''Queen Mary 2''.

★ Finnish Maritime Cluster

External links

★ Azipod propulsion enters its third generation at High Technology Finland

★ ABB site