The Swiss engineering group ABB has announced an order to power the new Virgin Voyages fleet. Each of the three 110,000 gross tons cruise ships will be equipped with ABB systems including the ABB propulsion, as well as it's electric generators and remote control systems for maneuvering. Virgin Voyages vessels will be equipped with two Azipod XO units, a combined propulsion power of 32 MW (43,000 HP). Also, the cruise ships will have Abb’s Azipod® propulsion, a 360-degree pivoting system in which the electric motor is placed in a submerged pod beneath the hull. Azipod® propulsion has become an industry standard in the cruise segment due to its ability to reduce fuel consumption by up to 15% compared to traditional propulsion systems.

"Making Virgin Voyage s eco-friendly is fundamental to our vision and we are pleased that Abb's Azipod® propulsion system helps us achieve this goal. Also because of its excellent maneuverability, it was a natural choice for our ships, "said Stuart Hawkins, Senior vice president, Marine & Technical Operations at Virgin Voyages.

Peter Terwiesch, president of ABB's Industrial Automation division, commented that "Azipod electric propulsion is synonymous with innovation and efficiency like no other propulsion system and is fundamental to our vision of electric, digital and connected transportation".

"Based on our 25 years of experience and development, our Azipod propulsion technology continues to lead the ships towards the future of electric mobility, which supports our commitment to a technology with a superior profile of performance, reliability, safety, and environment, "Terwiesch said.