Advanced propulsion system helps improve transportation efficiency
Beijing, China, July 3, 2006 - ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, said today it has won a major contract to provide ABB power plant and Compact Azipod propulsion system for the third ferry for the train ferry line between East China's Yantai and Northeast China's Dalian, two cities across Bohai Bay north of Beijing. The construction of the new ferry vessel will be started in April of 2007 and will be delivered in May of 2008.
Linking up the southern tip of the Liaoning Peninsula and the northern end of the Shandong Peninsula, the train ferry line is an important part of China's coastal railway corridor. The longest train ferry line in China will boost the development in Northeast, Bohai Bay Rim and Yangtze River Delta, three main economic areas in the country.
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"The repeat order is a solid proof to the customer's recognition of ABB's one-stop service for the first and second ferry vessels. It confirms its trust on our advanced propulsion system, our ability to execute projects and our high quality after-sales service," noted Rami Jokela, general manager of ABB's marine business in China. "We will work closely with Sinorail Bohai Train Ferry and Tianjin Xingang Shipyard for the construction and operation of these three ferries. With our unrivaled expertise in Azipod propulsion system, we are confident of making greater contribution to the construction of coastal railway corridors across China."
The ferry is 182.6 meters long, 24.8 meters wide and has the capacity of carrying 50 train carriages, 50 trucks, 25 cars and 480 passengers. Launched in October of 2004, the train ferry line will help shorten the train connection between the two cities by almost 1,000 kilometers.
Considered the leading marine technology in this field, ABB Compact Azipod propulsion system can save 10 to 15 percent more fuel. In addition, the system provides lower noise, vibration and greater maneuverability.
Focusing on high-end specific marine market, ABB Marine has been committed to sharing its latest technologies with Chinese customers since its entry into China in 2002. ABB's advanced electric propulsion technology has been well received across China's market. In the second quarter this year ABB Marine China achieved a historical high sales record in China.
ABB Marine is a global organization with two centers of excellence in Norway and Finland. It also has branches throughout the world for local presence close to shipyards and operators. The technical service centers across the world are accessible for all the systems ABB makes and offers. It has established three departments for marketing and sales, project engineering and after-sale service in China, with affiliates in Dalian, Tianjin and Shanghai.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impacts. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 104,000 people worldwide. ABB has a full range of business activities in China, including manufacturing, R&D, sales and service, with 8,500 employees, 25 joint ventures and wholly owned companies, and an extensive sales and service network across 30 cities. To know more about ABB, visit www.abb.com.cn.