ABB, Samsung Develop New Propulsion Concept

Playing off of each other’s strengths, ABB and Samsung announced a jointly developed propulsion concept for the new 12,000 TEU containerships developed by Samsung. Instead of being outfitted with a rudder, the ships will feature a CRP Azipod unit mounted directly behind the standard propeller. Located on the same axis, but without any physical connection, the pod’s pulling propeller will contra-rotate in relation to the shaft-driven main propeller. The arrangement will provide an estimated improvement of more than 10 percent in hydrodynamic propulsion efficiency.