Close to shore routes face tough scrutiny due to their proximity to populations and sensitive ecosystems. Electric drivetrain solutions are not only essential for regulatory compliance, but also a pathway to quieter, cleaner, and more efficient operations. For decades ABB has been a pioneer in transportation, giving unparalleled experience in delivering reliable solutions.
Navigating compliance
Regulatory tides are rising fast. Emission Control Areas (EACs) in regions like the Baltic, North Sea, Mediterranean and other regions worldwide now demand cleaner fuels and major cuts in nitrous oxide emissions. These measures exist to protect public health and the environment - reducing pollution that significantly harms the seabed ecosystem. For smaller vessels such as tugboats, car and passenger ferries, service vessels and fishing vessels, compliance costs are escalating the quickest. As a result, electrification is not only an environmental benefit but an economic necessity.
ABB has helped operators navigate in this difficult climate. In Turkey’s Port of Istanbul, the Zeetug30 is powered by ABB’s HES880 Mobile Drives reducing operational costs by up to 85 percent and saving 210 tonnes of CO2 and 9 tonnes of NOx emissions per year compared to similar-sized diesel-mechanical tugs. Crews have already experienced the benefits: impressive manoeuvrability, quick response time, and immediate propulsion power. Importantly, ABB’s marine technologies comply with most international regulations, including DNV certification, ensuring that environmental standards and ambitious decarbonisation goals need not compromise operational capacity.
Keeping operations afloat
For close-to-shore vessels, uptime is everything. A ferry unable to operate its scheduled route or a coastal supply vessel missing critical delivery window can lead to genuine crisis. The systems powering these marine operations must be as dependable as they are sustainable, capable of enduring saltwater corrosion, vibrations and heavy loads. Electric and hybrid systems inherently simplify operations.
A tailored fit
Every close to shore vessel has unique demands. A ferry has vastly different requirements to a harbour tug or a coastal supply vessel, each needs a purpose-built solution.
ABB recognises this diversity, tailoring size, weight, performance and power to different needs. At the heart of this flexibility is ABB’s comprehensive product portfolio - from AMXE Motors, and HES880 Mobile Inverters, to Max Series Traction Batteries - each engineered for compact, reliable performance. Modular designs enable easy integration within existing propulsion systems, allowing for seamless transition and optimising space without sacrificing output - whether in an engine room or electric machinery on the open deck. Fully electric or hybrid, ABB understands the balance between efficiency, endurance and compliance.
The Maid of the Mist tour boats at Niagara Falls, one of the US’ oldest attractions, are a testament to this adaptability. ABB’s electric drivetrain solutions were tailored to fit their specific demands of daily operation. Projects like this highlight how even historic operators can embrace ABB’s technologies without sacrificing identity or performance.
A cleaner future
ABB’s global network of service centres and local experts supports operators ensuring solutions that fit each vessel, route and regulatory environment. The shift to electrified maritime transport is no longer a distant goal. It is a present necessity, driven by regulation and environmental urgency. With technologies spanning motors, drives and battery systems, ABB delivers complete, modular solutions that combine performance and dependability. Whether retrofitting historic ferries or powering new fleets, ABB is charting the course with confidence.
