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ABB has secured an order to provide its Azipod propulsion system for a new LNG-powered Viking Line cruise ferry to be built in China. It will be the first installation of Azipod propulsion in a cruise ferry application.

As previously reported by Bunker Index in November, vessel is to be built by Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd (XSI). Additional scope of ABB's supply includes electrical power generation and distribution systems and bow thruster motors.

Scheduled for delivery in 2020, the 13-deck, 63,000-gross-tonne (grt) ship will connect the Finnish port of Turku, Aland Islands and Stockholm Sweden. Azipod electrical propulsion is said to be especially suited to the high efficiency and fast turnaround required to navigate the archipelago between Finland and Sweden.

Like its predecessor, the Viking Grace, the new cruise-ferry will feature LNG engines. However, while the earlier Viking Line ship includes conventional shaftline propulsion technology, the latest contract calls for the first installation in a cruise-ferry application of twin XO 2100-type Azipod propulsion.

Like all Azipod propulsion units, the XO-type features intelligent control systems and advanced condition monitoring, and is designed for optimized energy efficiency and maintainability. Classed by DNV GL, the ship will also draw on ABB's experience in providing Azipod propulsion systems for ships operating in ice conditions, with the Azipod XO units designed to match the ship's ice class 1A Super notation.

"Our expectations for this vessel is that she will be the most efficient cruise ferry operating in the Baltic, if not the world, and our choice of ABB is based on our experience of them as a reliable, innovative supply partner with the knowledge and understanding to run major projects in Finland and locally with shipbuilders," said Jan Hanses, President and CEO, Viking Line.

"Following on from our power and propulsion systems role in Viking Grace, we are very excited that the continuation of our cooperation with Viking Line involves the groundbreaking order for Azipod propulsion for this cruise ferry," rmarled Marcus Hogblom, Vice President, Global Sales, Azipod and Passenger Ship Segment.

"By utilizing ABBs knowledge in the cruise sector, Viking Line's expertise in ferry operations and our joint experience from Viking Grace we are - together - writing the future of how propulsion systems will look," added Juha Koskela, Managing Director, ABB BU Marine and Ports.

Viking Line has stated that its contract with XSI includes an option to build a second cruise ferry at the yard.