Operating safely and responsibly in the toughest ice conditions on the planet requires the toughest technology. Harsh environments, regulatory requirements, and lack of infrastructure are key challenges in building icebreaking vessels for operations in Polar waters – not only research vessels, but also expedition ships, cargo ships, tankers, and LNG carriers. System redundancy and equipment reliability are critical for the safety of both vessel and crew. Podded propulsion solutions have been developed to meet these stringent requirements offering effective, clean, and quiet operations together with superior maneuverability and reliability.
This article starts by reviewing the history of icebreaking vessels and how Double Acting Ship (DAS™) concept, developed by Aker Arctic, revolutionized this domain, enabling ships to operate without dedicated icebreaker support. DA designs combined with podded propulsion systems have proven highly effective in carrying out operations in ice-infested waters. To break ice in the most challenging conditions, vessels powered by ABB’s Azipod® propulsion navigate stern first. Propellers mill the submerged part of the ice ridge to open a passage, while water flow generated by the propeller flushes the hull, allowing the ship to move with ease through the thick ice. The OPEX and CAPEX benefits provided by Azipod® propulsion are also discussed.
The article then investigates the evaluation criteria for selecting the optimal propulsion system for LNG carriers, as well mitigation of Underwater Radiated Noise (URN) from electric propulsion systems, at a time of increasing awareness and concerns around the impact of ship traffic on Polar marine flora and fauna. ABB recently completed a full-scale validation of the prediction method for URN that can be efficiently applied to any new project.
The article also discusses the development of electric powerplants for modern icebreakers, including future-proof sustainable solutions such as ABB Onboard DC Grid™, a modular power system platform that enables simple, flexible, and functional integration of energy sources and loads, as well as increasing adoption of energy storage systems (ESS).
