ABB has contracted with Cochin Shipyard for two new 1,200-passenger ferries. In a first for an owner in India, these vessels will benefit from a full integration of their power generation, distribution and propulsion systems, enabled by the ABB Ability™ System 800xA automation on board.

ABB's scope of supply includes generators, main switchboards, transformers, the power management and propulsion control systems, and the integrated alarm, monitoring and control system (IAMCS). The ferries, to be delivered to the Andaman & Nicobar Administration in 2020, will be operated by Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) in services connecting mainland India with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal.

''These ferries will play a significant part in meeting the demands of the growing local infrastructure and proving transport links within the Bay of Bengal, said Madhu S Nair, Chairman and Managing Director of Cochin Shipyard. ''We look forward to working together with ABB for integrating modern vessel management techniques and leveraging each other’s capabilities on these vessels, which we are confident would be the best amongst the Administration’s fleet once they are put into service.''

''ABB is pleased to work with Cochin Shipyard and the Shipping Corporation of India to partner the vision of maximizing the potential of India's waterways,'' said Madhav Vemuri, President and head of Industrial Automation division, ABB India. ''Deploying best-in-class integrated power and automation packages and vessel management technology will provide next level of efficiency and sustainability to such projects to connect multiple locations in the region,'' he added.

Shares of the company gained Rs 10.5, or 0.87%, to trade at Rs 1,221.60. The total volume of shares traded was 153 at the BSE (9.43 a.m., Wednesday).