ABB opens Service Centre in Russia

(Posted on 30/05/19)

The newly inaugurated centre will support ABB’s ship power, propulsion and automation technologies and expand service capabilities for ice-going vessels

The new Marine Service Centre builds on a decade of local ABB services in support of ice-going vessels and relies on a strong core of engineering expertise in Murmansk. In 2009, ABB’s engineers operating from smaller scale service facilities in Murmansk supported 15 vessels featuring the group’s equipment; in 2019, the number of ships has exceeded 50, with projects covering over 100 Azipod® propulsion units. Responding to the needs of a growing customer base, ABB has expanded its service capabilities by opening a new, dedicated service facility.

“Opening the Murmansk Marine Service Centre is a truly special moment for ABB in Russia,” says Juha Koskela, Managing Director, ABB Marine & Ports. “We work relentlessly to ensure that our services meet customer needs and expectations locally. Murmansk becomes the latest facility to join our global network of dedicated service centres that deliver expertise and reliability 24/7, helping manage vessels throughout their lifecycles.”

Located in Murmansk, the world’s largest city above the Arctic Circle, the new centre occupies 2,000 m2 in a purpose-built facility with its offices, electrical and mechanical testing areas, and a workshop served by overhead gantry cranes. The centre also features a warehouse for Azipod propulsion and electrical spare parts to ensure shortest delivery times and to further enhance responsiveness.

“With an initial staff of 20, including 12 local field engineers, the new Marine Centre is well positioned to accommodate the needs of our growing customer base, alongside an additional pool of service engineers on the island of Sakhalin in Russia’s Far East,” said Sergey Shevchuk, Local Business Manager, ABB Marine & Ports Russia.

The new centre is also going to provide Russian language support to owners within the worldwide ABB Ability™ Collaborative Operations Centres network. Seven global Collaborative Operations Centres connect into shipboard sensors to monitor the equipment onboard and support remote preventive and even predictive maintenance as part of ABB’s ‘Electric. Digital. Connected.’ approach.

ABB’s technologies are widely used for vessels operating in the Northern Sea Route. ABB has delivered Azipod electric propulsion systems to over 80 icebreakers or ice-going vessels with a combined propulsion power of up to 45 MW. ABB’s Azipod icebreaking propulsion is capable breaking 2.1 m thick ice, which eliminates the need for conventional icebreaker assistance and makes it possible for vessels to cross the Northern Sea Route independently.

Azipod propulsion is a gearless system where the electric propulsion motor is located in a pod outside the ship hull. Thrusters can turn 360 degrees, providing greater manoeuvrability for vessels compared with the conventional propulsion systems, which is particularly crucial when operating in ice.