ABB has signed a contract with Netherlands-based yacht builder OCEANCO to supply an integrated electric power and propulsion system for two superyachts under construction for deliveries in 2031 and 2032. The collaboration marks the latest step in the two companies’ collaboration on advanced marine technology.
Amid growing demand for vessels that combine luxury with environmental responsibility, yacht owners are increasingly specifying electric propulsion for its abilities to reduce noise and vibration, enhance maneuverability, and lower emissions, while utilizing alternative energy sources.
ABB’s solution integrates Azipod® electric propulsion with Onboard DC Grid™, PEMS™ power and energy management system, along with battery energy storage to optimize the energy flow between all vessel systems based on operating conditions for optimal performance and energy efficiency. Onboard DC Grid™ will ensure efficient power distribution, prepare the vessel for alternative fuels and hybrid configurations and enable its energy storage system to offer different functionalities, such as peak shaving and load optimization to optimize generator running hours, fuel consumption, and associated emissions.
Each vessel will feature dual 4.2-megawatt Azipod® propulsors with Ice Class 1C for smooth, stable operations in various conditions, including light ice. With its electric motor housed inside the pod eliminating mechanical transmission losses, the gearless Azipod® propulsion ensures smoother and quieter operations while also improving fuel efficiency over conventional shaft line propulsion.
“At OCEANCO, we are committed to providing yacht owners with ultimate efficiency, comfort, and sustainability. We recognize that the power plant principle based on DC integration and electric propulsion, as well-established technologies, is critical to this objective,” said Marcel Onkenhout, CEO, OCEANCO. “ABB’s integrated power and propulsion solutions are proven to deliver exceptional performance across the board, while the company’s collaborative approach and technical expertise make it an excellent project partner. We look forward to working with ABB to deliver these highly sophisticated vessels to our discerning clients.”
The ABB package will also include the ABB Ability™ Remote Diagnostic System for Marine (RDS), which offers owners real-time monitoring, proactive troubleshooting, and predictive maintenance capabilities. Through RDS and its round-the-clock global support network, ABB will minimize repair time for improved availability and operational safety.
“This collaboration further strengthens our long-standing relationship with our trusted partner OCEANCO”, said Rune Braastad, President, ABB’s Marine & Ports division. “It also reaffirms our commitment to supporting the yacht industry’s journey toward leaner and cleaner operations. The two forthcoming vessels perfectly demonstrate the close interplay between luxury and environmental responsibility, and we are looking forward to seeing them in operation.”
ABB has previously supplied two 2.5-MW Azipod® units, together with propulsion drives and controls, to a superyacht that OCEANCO recently delivered to its owner1. In 2025, the two companies also jointly tested the pioneering ABB Dynafin™ cycloidal propulsion concept at the Marine Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN), confirming its efficiency and sustainability benefits for superyachts2.
