September 15, 2003 Oslo, Norway – ABB’s Marine business unit in Norway has been awarded a contract from Zhejiang Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. of China to supply integrated electrical systems and services for four diesel-electric Platform Support Vessels to be built for offshore division of Groupe Bourbon (France). The contract also includes an option for similar deliveries to four additional vessels.
Groupe Bourbon offshore division's new PSVs, of GPA 670 design from Guido Perla & Associates, Inc., will be equipped with environmentally friendly diesel-electric propulsion and dynamic positioning (DP) systems for superior operational performance. As Integrated Electric System Vendor, ABB will supply a complete electro-technical solution that also includes dynamic positioning, thruster control and automation from Kongsberg Maritime.
This contract is strategically important as it confirms ABB's position as a leading supplier of total integrated electro-technical solutions to the marine industry. With focus on the fast-growing Chinese shipbuilding market, ABB is already established with a Marine branch office in Shanghai.
Delivery of the first vessel is scheduled for the beginning of second quarter of 2005, with the remaining deliveries at intervals of approximately three months.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 133,000 people