Aurora was appointed by Saga Cruises to undertake a Due Diligence study into the proposed use of two 6.5MW azimuth electric propulsion drives, for two new cruise ships, instead of use of conventional diesel engines and a rudder system.
Saga was unfamiliar with this technology and had requested that Aurora undertake a detailed analysis of the overall azimuth drive unit, as well as the individual components such as the Permanently Excited Motor, Slip ring transmitter, VSD and converter transformer.
The due diligence study by Aurora was wide ranging and considered the maturity and reliability of the overall technology as well as the potential different failure modes for the whole system and individual components, and the impact of harmonic output of the VSDs on the ship’s main power systems.
