Power and automation technology group ABB has won an order from ship-owner Myklebusthaug Management to supply the first ever direct current (DC) power grid on board a ship.

The equipment will allow a new offshore platform support vessel (PSV), under construction in Norway, to operate at the highest energy efficiency level to minimise emissions. In traditional electrical propulsion vessels, multiple DC connections are made to thrusters and propulsion drives from an alternating current (AC) circuit, accounting for more than 80 percent of electrical power consumption. ABB’s Onboard DC Grid distributes power through a single DC circuit providing significant power savings.

Launched in May 2011, ABB’s Onboard DC Grid is part of a revival of power solutions using DC, and will provide highly efficient power distribution and electric propulsion for a wide range of vessels. It is designed for ships with low-voltage onboard circuits, such as offshore support vessels, tug boats, ferries and yachts, and can reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 20 percent.

A key advantage of ABB’s Onboard DC Grid is that the ship’s engines no longer have to run at a fixed speed, so the engine’s speed can be adjusted to optimise fuel consumption. By eliminating the need for bulky transformers and switchboards, the footprint and weight of the electrical system can be reduced by up to 30 percent, leaving more space on the vessels for passengers or cargo while also providing greater flexibility in the positioning of system components in the vessel.

ABB will provide its full onboard DC system, including all power, propulsion and automation systems for the 93-metre long, 5,000 tonne vessel, which is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2013.

For further information, contact: