New fast-ferries with CRP Azipod®

New fast-ferries with CRP Azipod® ShinNihonkai Ferry (SNF), the leading ferry operator in Japan, took delivery of two innovative RoPax newbuilds in 2004 from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. These new ferries were the world's first vessels to be installed with CRP Azipod® Propulsion

In their first two years of operation, the ferries have documented a remarkable 20% savings in bunker fuel consumption as compared to previous ferries on the same route, while providing higher speed and 15 % more transportation capacity - which has expanded transportation opportunities for the owners

Machinery arrangement

To each RoPax ferry, ABB delivered a 17.6 MW Azipod® unit, propulsion control system and a 27 MW, k.6 kV power generation and distribution system. The Azipod® unit works in tandem with a reduction gear-driven CRP propeller. Power distribution is 25.2 MW on the CRP propeller and 17.6 MW on the Azipod®, for a total of 42.8 MW. In order to achieve the same vessel speed, the total installed power using a conventional twin-shaft would be around 10 % higher