ABB will showcase its flagship maritime portfolio at Marintec China 2025, scheduled to take place from December 2 to 5 in Shanghai. Under the theme “Innovation and Collaboration for Sustainable Maritime Development,” ABB will present its latest electrification, automation, and digital solutions at Hall N1-A of the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.

Shipping remains the backbone of global trade, carrying around 90% of international goods and accounting for roughly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. As the International Maritime Organization (IMO) continues to tighten decarbonization regulations, the maritime industry is accelerating its transition toward low-carbon and digitalized operations, with energy efficiency and clean technologies becoming key drivers of transformation.

ABB has built deep expertise in the marine sector over decades. Since the 1950s, its legacy companies have delivered marine motors and propulsion systems. In the 1970s, ABB pioneered the application of AC variable speed drive technology in marine environments, and in the 1980s it introduced electric propulsion systems that helped shape modern vessel electrification and automation.

Today, ABB is focused on “efficiency-driven green transformation,” advancing electrification, automation, and digitalization solutions to improve vessel performance and reduce emissions. At this year’s exhibition, ABB’s Process Automation, Machine Automation, Motion, and Electrification divisions will jointly present an integrated portfolio showcasing end-to-end capabilities—from bridge to propeller and from clean energy to intelligent control.

In its core technologies, ABB’s motors, generators, and drive systems play a key role in enabling low- and zero-carbon shipping. The permanent magnet shaft generator system improves energy utilization by leveraging main engine power more efficiently, delivering up to around 4% fuel savings compared to traditional auxiliary power solutions. When combined with the ABB ACS880 Drive and direct torque control technology, overall hybrid system efficiency can be further improved.

The ACS880 drive is widely used in marine propulsion, shaft generators, energy storage, waste heat recovery, and exhaust gas cleaning systems. Its compact modular design, built-in diagnostics, and robust engineering ensure high reliability in demanding marine environments.

The Azipod® electric propulsion system, developed by ABB and widely recognized as a benchmark in marine propulsion, has been in service for over 30 years. By placing the motor in a steerable underwater pod capable of 360-degree rotation, it significantly enhances vessel maneuverability and hydrodynamic efficiency, reducing fuel consumption by up to 20% compared to conventional shaftline systems while also lowering noise and vibration levels. Its hybrid cooling design improves motor performance and supports multi-energy input, including batteries and fuel cells.

ABB’s Dynafin™ propulsion system is a biomimetic innovation inspired by whale tail movement. It uses a central rotating wheel with individually controlled vertical blades to optimize thrust and steering efficiency. Testing shows hydrodynamic efficiency of up to 81% at 18 knots, with potential energy savings of up to 22% for passenger vessels.

The SACE Infinitus solid-state circuit breaker is the world’s first IEC 60947-2 compliant solid-state breaker. It offers ultra-fast fault interruption within microseconds, enabling safer and more efficient DC power systems. It integrates protection, switching, isolation, monitoring, metering, and communication in a single device, supporting next-generation electrified vessels.

ABB’s DP2 control system provides advanced vessel operation management with intuitive interfaces and model-based control algorithms. It improves operational safety in complex sea conditions while supporting data-driven decision-making to enhance efficiency and performance.

The ABB AC500 PLC and B&R X20 automation systems deliver high reliability, modular scalability, and advanced control capabilities for marine applications. These systems are widely used in propulsion control, power management, ballast systems, and shore power connections, supporting intelligent ship operations across multiple vessel types.

ABB B&R’s AI-based M-series solutions include MHelp and MDoctor. MHelp leverages large language models for fault analysis and troubleshooting support, while MDoctor uses machine learning and vibration monitoring to enable predictive maintenance, shifting operations from reactive repair to proactive maintenance.

ABB Motion’s planned service offerings combine preventive maintenance and system optimization, helping customers reduce operating costs and extend equipment lifespan while ensuring high system reliability.

In addition to product showcases, the booth will feature an immersive interactive experience zone and technical seminars covering topics such as marine drive applications, cybersecurity for drives, and shaft generator technologies. ABB experts will share insights and real-world practices, contributing to discussions on the future of sustainable and intelligent shipping.