Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has turned again to the Swiss-based power and automation technology group ABB to provide complete electrical power plants and Azipod® XO fuel-saving electric propulsion systems for two cruise ships currently under construction for the Miami-based Carnival Corporation.
Valued at USD 60 million, ABB`s delivery will also include generators, main switchboards, a remote control system and distribution transformers.
The two ships will sail under Carnival Corporation’s brands Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Line. The new vessel for Holland America Line will be a sister ship to Koningsdam, currently under construction at Fincantieri. The vessel will have a gross tonnage of 99,500 tons, accommodate up to 2,650 passengers and will be delivered in Q4/2018.
Carnival Cruise Line´s new, 3,954-passenger vessel will be a sister ship to Carnival Vista and it is the 26th ship in the cruise operator’s fleet. The delivery for this new ship is scheduled for Q1/2018.
“We are pleased to continue our collaboration with Fincantieri, which is known as one of the world’s leading cruise ship builders. Longstanding customer relationships with leading shipyards such as Fincantieri are testament to our continued dedication to quality and customer value,” said Heikki Soljama, managing director for ABB’s Marine and Ports business.
ABB’s first electric propulsion delivery to Fincantieri was for a Carnival cruise ship in 1990. Since then, 14 ships built by Fincantieri have been equipped with ABB’s Azipod propulsion. Twenty-four of Carnival Corporation’s ships are equipped with Azipod propulsion.