By
Alex Smith |
ABB is to supply power, propulsion and automation technology system for two new ropax ferries, Kupe and Cook, which form part of New Zealand’s Cook Strait Ferry Replacement Programme.
The 200-meter long, 28-meter-wide ferries will operate across the Cook Strait at the junction of the Tasman Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, making the 92-kilometer Wellington-Picton crossing between New Zealand’s North and South Islands. They will offer capacity for 63 per cent more passengers (1,530 persons) and 44 per cent more freight (2,400 lane meters) than their predecessors. The ferries are rail-enabled, allowing rail freight to be loaded directly onto the vessels, eliminating multiple cargo handling steps during inter-island transfers.
The technology group will provide four main alternators, as well as motors and drives for the three bow thrusters. Two Azipod propulsion units will allow the ships to crab – move sideways without changing the direction of the bow – at 1 knot in 40 knots of wind from any direction, allowing for easier entry into the ports of Wellington and Picton.
Two Azipod propulsion units will allow Kupe and Cook to crab when entering port (Photo: Ferry Holdings Limited)
ABB’s Power and Energy Management System (PEMS) will continuously balance energy across the vessels’ generators, battery energy storage system, propulsion and auxillary loads. PEMS treats these elements as part of an integrated whole, automatically optimising fuel consumption, enabling harbour operations on battery power alone and maintaining power continuity in the event of a fail.
Finally, these systems will be complemented with the ABB Ability Remote Diagnostic System for continuous monitoring and access to ABB’s global network of experts. The digital solution enables predictive maintenance, faster troubleshooting and real-time operational insights.
“Growing up on the shores of Lyall Bay in Wellington, I watched the ferries push out into Cook Strait in all conditions, wind, swell and everything in between,” said Palemia Field, global segment manager for ferries in ABB’s Marine & Ports division. “That personal connection makes it even more meaningful to now be part of delivering vessels that will transform that crossing. They are quieter, cleaner, more reliable, and built for the next 30 years of New Zealand's growth.”
ABB’s systems will be installed at Guangzhou Shipyard International, where the two ferries are currently under construction. The vessels are set to be delivered to Ferry Holdings Limited, an entity controlled by the New Zealand Government, in 2029.
“These ferries represent a key investment in New Zealand's transport infrastructure,” said Massimo Soprano, ship programme director for Ferry Holdings Limited. “Selecting ABB gives us confidence that we will deliver vessels with world-class power, propulsion and automation technology. These systems are designed for the demanding conditions of Cook Strait and built to minimise environmental impact over their entire lifecycle.”