ABB - Experts & Thought Leaders

ABB has secured an order with the shipbuilding company - All American Marine to supply a hybrid-electric propulsion system for the new ocean sampling catamaran for the Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) in California. In addition to the comprehensive scope of technologies, All American Marine will draw on ABB’s extensive expertise in the supply, engineering, and systems integration of hybrid-electric vessels. The vessel is expected to be delivered to OC San in 2027. 19.2–metre vessel The 19.2–metre (63-foot) vessel has been designed to support OC San’s Ocean Monitoring Program which has run for over 40 years in support of wastewater collection, treatment, disposal, and recycling services for 2.6 million residents in the county. The program, which operates around 90 days each year, verifies that the ocean remains safe for swimming, marine life, and fisheries. Decarbonisation of maritime The vessel will be built to meet California Air Resources Board’s annual equivalence requirements The ABB hybrid-electric propulsion system on board the new vessel will support OC San’s commitment to environmental stewardship, while also aligning with ABB’s efforts in supporting the decarbonisation of maritime operations. The vessel will be built to meet California Air Resources Board’s annual equivalence requirements for Zero-Emission Capable Hybrid Vessels, which mandate that at least 30 percent of total annual power must come from zero-emission power sources. Vessel optimisation "This project represents a significant new investment by OC San in protecting public health and the environment, and has also been designed with sustainability at its heart," said Ron Wille, President & COO of All American Marine. He adds, "We are delighted to work with ABB, whose hybrid-electric propulsion system will help optimise the vessel in a safe and energy-efficient manner." Hybrid-electric propulsion technology "We are pleased to collaborate with All American Marine on this new ocean sampling vessel," said Drew Orvieto, Head of Sales, Marine Systems, US at ABB Marine & Ports. Drew Orvieto adds, "Our hybrid-electric propulsion technology is an ideal choice for a broad range of vessel types, including environmental monitoring and research vessels. ABB takes great pride in working together with vessel operators and shipyards in the United States and around the world looking to decarbonise their operations."

The contract for civil works and electrification for the expansion of APM Terminals Maasvlakte II (MVII) container terminal in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, has been awarded to CareGo, a consortium comprising ABB, Dura Vermeer, and GMB. 51-hectare container yard The expansion will cover a 51-hectare container yard. This will double the capacity of the terminal, making it one of the most advanced fully automated terminals in the world. The 51 hectares will consist of 31 additional yard blocks, quay area, truck and rail areas, and associated infrastructure. The Rotterdam Port Authority has already constructed 1,000 meters of new deep-sea quay for the expansion of the facility. The financial details of the order were not disclosed. Construction and electrification Dura Vermeer and GMB will supply the civil works of the entire site, including pavements, concrete foundations The consortium partners, technology pioneer ABB and Dutch construction companies Dura Vermeer and GMB were chosen due to their expertise in the construction and electrification of container terminals and previous experience providing solutions for APM Terminals. ABB will provide terminal electrification with prefabricated substations and data centers, terminal lighting, fiber optic network, and power supply to cranes and reefers. Dura Vermeer and GMB will supply the civil works of the entire site, including pavements, concrete foundations, crane tracks, reefer racks, fencing, and the expansion of the rail terminal. Container Terminal "Building a fully automated Container Terminal of this magnitude in such a short time frame is a challenging but also wonderful assignment. We have proven with APM Terminals MVII that we can do this,” said Sander Lindemans, Project Director, CareGo. “The new terminal is both highly sustainable and innovative. The participating companies in the construction consortium recognise themselves in this forward-thinking approach, making them perfectly suited for this challenging project.” Automation solutions "As container terminals are becoming fully electrified, the need for resilient power infrastructure becomes even more important. With our solid track record in delivering automation solutions to container terminals and extensive expertise in designing and building reliable microgrids, we are well positioned to support this development,” said Clara Holmgren, Business Line Manager, Ports at ABB Marine & Ports. “We are proud of the trust APMT MVII has placed in us as a provider of port electrical infrastructure for their fully electrified terminal, and look forward to delivering this project together with our consortium partners.” Doubling terminal capacity “It gives us peace of mind that the CareGo consortium with such proven and trusted partners is going to deliver high-quality work on our extensive civil work,” said Harold Kunst, Managing Director APM Terminals MVII. “With the pioneering companies ABB, Dura Vermeer, and GMB, APM Terminals has good experiences gained in the past and we fully expect that the expansion and actual doubling of our terminal capacity will be completed as agreed and on time. We look forward to a constructive cooperation.” Design and seamless transition APM Terminals MVII will become one of the world's most advanced fully automated terminals APM Terminals MVII will become one of the world's most advanced fully automated terminals, equipped to load and unload the largest container ships in the world. With fully secure automated areas separating man and machine, it will also be one of the safest. Due to its design and seamless transition from sea to land, the terminal is able to guarantee highly reliable handling. Lift Automated Guided Vehicles A dedicated area with six barge cranes and a fully integrated rail terminal ensures smooth loading and discharging of containers to and from the hinterland. The rail terminal is directly connecting the port of Rotterdam with the German rail network at the Dutch/German border. APM Terminals MVII is a fully electrified container terminal running on renewable electricity with energy-efficient buildings and grounds. The Lift Automated Guided Vehicles (L-AGV) also run on electricity instead of diesel. In addition, the expansion will introduce Automated Terminal Trucks (ATTs) that will operate in mixed traffic. Advanced container terminals APM Terminals develops and operates advanced container terminals around the world and has been lifting standards in the industry for more than a half-century. The company is an independent division in A.P. Moller-Maersk and has facilities in 60 key locations in 33 countries around the globe with several in development.  APM Terminals employs approximately 22,000 people, and in 2023, there were 27,000 vessel calls in its terminals. CareGo is the construction consortium consisting of Dura Vermeer, GMB, and ABB, formed to deliver the civil works and electrification of the APM Terminals MVII expansion. Core activities The company is active in residential construction, non-residential construction, infrastructure Dura Vermeer is a family business that has been in existence since 1855. It is an independent construction company operating in the Netherlands. With a turnover of approximately €1.9 billion and over 3,500 employees, Dura Vermeer ranks among the top construction companies in the Netherlands. The company is active in residential construction, non-residential construction, infrastructure and engineering. Its core activities include the design, development, and realisation of construction and infrastructure projects, including management and maintenance, renovation, and transformation. Water safety, water quality, bioenergy GMB is a construction company specialising in water safety, water quality, bioenergy, and industrial construction & infra. The company has the competencies of design & construction, management & maintenance, and operation. GMB employs 550 people. ABB is a global technology pioneer in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. High performance By connecting its engineering and digitalisation expertise, ABB helps industries run at high performance while becoming more efficient, productive, and sustainable so they outperform. ABB calls this ‘Engineered to Outrun’. The company has over 140 years of history and more than 105,000 employees worldwide. ABB’s shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB).

The European Space Agency (ESA) has initiated a new flagship project, Decarbonisation through the Digitalisation in Shipping (DECARDIS), together with optimisation platform company Awake.AI, technology pioneer ABB and shipping company Wallenius Marine. The consortium, funded by ESA and led by Awake.AI, will collaborate on a port call optimisation solution, which focuses on helping ships cut greenhouse gas emissions by overcoming inefficiencies in the ship-port interaction.  Smart ship technology Ships told to move without delay often face a wait on arrival in port, having used more fuel Despite huge strides in smart ship technology and high levels of port automation, relationships between port and ship systems lack transparency, with data on voyage and berth management often confined to closed platforms.  Ships told to proceed without delay frequently face a wait on arrival in port, having used more fuel and generated additional emissions.  Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions DECARDIS project seeks to develop an integrated and interoperable solution to join up decisions on ship routeing and speed with just-in-time arrival at the berth. It foresees the world’s first solution to optimise an entire voyage and port calls, rather than just a portion of it. Adopted at a global level, DECARDIS partners estimate that such a solution could help achieve significant emission reductions. This is highly significant for an industry pressed by International Maritime Organisation targets to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by or around 2050 and the EU 2030 Climate Target Plan proposal to reduce emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. Advanced digital solution Users access this interoperable sail and port call optimisation key via a web-based interface The DECARDIS project aims to integrate the voyage optimisation solution of the ABB-Wallenius Marine collaboration called OVERSEA with port optimisation solutions offered by Awake.AI in an interoperable solution. Users will access this interoperable voyage and port call optimisation solution through a web-based interface that is compatible with existing onboard solutions. OVERSEA users will draw on both an advanced digital solution and support from centre experts to reach decisions on optimising vessel operational performance, cut bunker cost and reduce emissions. OVERSEA collaboration “With the OVERSEA collaboration, we are establishing a smart fleet support service which enhances efficiency”, said Jesper Lögdström, Head of Performance Management Centre, Wallenius Marine.  “We aim to give crews and shore personnel a common understanding of data and support them with insights and actionable recommendations to improve vessel operational performance. Transparency and close collaboration with clients will be crucial to succeed.” Port services and products Awake.AI ended its first ESA demonstration ‘Smart Port Marketplace’ project Last year Awake.AI completed its first ESA demonstration ‘Smart Port Marketplace’ project, enabling the automation of buying and selling of port services and products. “Together with ABB and Wallenius Marine, we have a joint vision to the industry: what if no ship ever had to rush to wait. Every ship would always sail at their optimal speed and take the optimal route,” said Karno Tenovuo, CEO, Awake.AI. “By combining the technologies Awake.AI has for port call optimisation and ABB and Wallenius Marine have for the voyage optimisation, we can make this vision a reality.” Development towards shipping “We at ABB have developed a pioneering position in maritime digitalisation based on a blend of systems development and sector expertise across power distribution, control and automation, propulsion and vessel management software,” said Osku Kälkäjä, Head of Digital Business, ABB Marine & Ports. “This sector-specific expertise also convinces us that collaboration is key to overcoming inefficiencies that slow down the development towards more sustainable shipping. Working with Wallenius Marine on OVERSEA has strengthened this conviction. We look forward to the exciting work ahead with Awake.AI on port side digitalisation.” Decarbonisation of the maritime industry The call seeks to assist the maritime sector in adapting to and complying with new European works The project is part of ESA’s call on maritime decarbonisation, which is aimed at supporting the development of sustainable space-based services and applications that address challenges related to the decarbonisation of the maritime industry. Additionally, the call seeks to assist the maritime sector in adapting to and complying with new European and international regulatory frameworks. Decarbonisation targets “The maritime sector is undergoing a profound transformation to meet decarbonisation targets." "DECARDIS is a prime example of how space data combined with digitalisation can be leveraged to transform the sector with immediate effect, and without compromising performance," said Nil Angli, Maritime Lead at ESA Space Solutions.