ABB recently won an order from STX in Finland to supply a comprehensive automation package and energy management system for a new 99,300-ton cruise vessel currently being built by STX Finland Oy and owned by TUI Cruises. The approximately 295 meters long and 35 meters wide cruise ship will be added to the luxurious cruise fleet owned by TUI Cruises GmbH, a joint venture between German tourism company TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.

STX Finland, is an experienced shipbuilding company specialized in innovative and ecologically friendly solutions and technologically demanding projects. Its new vessel, highly sophisticated and innovative, is being both designed and constructed by STX Finland and TUI Cruises and is planned to be delivered in the spring of 2014. The ship has 1,250 staterooms and will serve 2,500 passengers with a crew of 1,000. Many environmentally friendly features are present in the vessel, with particular emphasis on energy efficiency.

ABB’s delivery will help the new ship to regulate fuel and power consumption, and provide detailed operational information for all onboard systems to maximize their performance, efficiency and passenger safety and comfort.

“Being awarded with this project is a very important milestone in the automation business within ABB Marine business. The project demonstrates the importance of software and digital information as one the key cornerstones in delivering energy efficient solutions”, said Rami Jokela, Head of Vessel Information and Control systems for ABB’s Marine and Cranes business unit. “It underscores ABB’s leadership in the integration of power and automation systems.”

ABB’s scope of supply consists of an integrated vessel management system (VMS), power management and HVAC control systems, emergency shut-down system (ESD) and energy management system. The complete system has approximately 13’000 I/O points and is based on ABB’s flagship 800xA automation platform.

This ship will be first cruise vessel in the world to utilize Ethernet based IEC61850 protocol in switchboard to power management system communication. This scope will be added to the complete electrical and propulsion system, also supplied by ABB, and will start being delivered in the second half of 2013.

ABB’s expanded its portfolio of solutions for Vessel Information and Control systems in 2011; which includes of a broad range of marine advisory and fleet management solutions, integrated automation, vessel management and control systems, and marine instrumentation and sensors, all of which help to optimize vessel operations and performance, improve energy efficiency, onboard equipment reliability and availability, and operational safety.