ABB has secured a contract with the shipyard Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry (Yangzhou), to equip 10 China Cosco Shipping Corporation container vessels with its permanent magnet shaft generator systems.
The deal is considered to reaffim the growing appeal of the systems as a market-ready route to greater ship efficiency. Due for delivery by the end of 2025, the order comprises systems for six 14000 TEU vessels and four 16000 TEU vessels. With IMO introducing the new EEXI and CII regulatory standards, ABB says its permanent magnet shaft generator system will help the Cosco vessels achieve required efficiency levels as well as CII ratings which verify reduced GHG emissions.
Cosco Shipping’s selection of ABB permanent magnet shaft generator systems is the latest in a series of endorsements for the technology. The contract follows a run of orders from ro-ro, bulk carrier and container ship owners specifying the system, whose permanent magnet technology enhances the benefits provided by shaft generators over conventional shaft lines. Shaft generators with permanent magnet technology offer 3-4% higher efficiency, reduced maintenance costs and an up to 20% smaller footprint compared to traditional, synchronous excitation-based shaft generator systems. In combination with ABB’s ACS 880 drive, which ensures maximum functionality and flexibility in hybridisation applications, the technology can increase fuel efficiency by an additional 1%. Compared with auxiliary diesel generator sets, permanent magnet shaft generators deliver up to 17% greater fuel efficiency during voyages.
Michael Christensen, Global Segment Manager Dry Cargo, ABB Marine & Ports said: “ABB has been supporting China’s maritime industry for almost two decades, and we are proud to collaborate with Cosco Shipping, the country’s largest shipping company, in this breakthrough project. As we continue to develop our local capabilities to better serve our customers and help them achieve their sustainability targets, our permanent magnet technology will have an important role to play.”
