Engineering firm ABB has completed propulsion system upgrades across nine LNG carriers owned by Cool Company Ltd. (CoolCo), extending the vessels’ operational lives by more than ten years, according to Ship & Bunker.
Targeted Upgrades, Minimal Dry Dock Time
The programme centred on modernising frequency converters within the existing propulsion systems. As reported by Ship & Bunker, ABB retained the original vessel infrastructure and replaced only key electronic and control components — a targeted approach designed to improve reliability while keeping the time vessels spend out of service to a minimum.
The nine ships were built in 2015 and are fitted with ABB propulsion systems, including ACS6000 frequency converters. All upgrade work was completed at a shipyard in China, scheduled to run concurrently with routine maintenance activities.
Reliability Gains and Extended Warranty Coverage
Ship & Bunker reports that ABB indicated the modernisation programme is intended to strengthen system reliability and secure the long-term operational availability of the CoolCo fleet. As part of the delivery, ABB provided extended warranties of up to 24 months on the upgraded systems.
Tomas Arhippainen, Business Line Manager at ABB’s Marine & Ports division, outlined the benefit to the owner: “They have now extended drives’ lifetime by more than ten years, continuing to benefit from our full technical backing and spare part availability thanks to the adoption of our latest technologies.”
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
