ABB Solutions (Italy) has designed and commissioned the integrated control and automation system for the cruise ferry “La Suprema”, built by Nuovi Cantieri Apuania (NCA). “La Suprema” and her sister ship “La Superba” (delivered in 2002) are the largest cruise ferries operating in the Mediterranean Sea. The vessels have been built to meet the highest Class Notations from RINA and ABS, including the “Comfort Class”. ABB’s user-friendly and easy to maintain system has been designed according to the strict requirements for a safe and efficient plant operation and management.

The integrated automation system, based on open system architecture, includes: seven operator stations, two main controllers (starboard and port), four local controllers for main engines safety system, twenty one remote input/output units. It manages more than 3000 I/O control points giving to the operators access to plant monitoring and control trough around 100 video pages. The data exchange among main controllers and operator stations occurs on a redundant plant network and the communications among remote I/O units and controllers happens via a redundant fieldbus. The ABB scope of supply also includes engineers’ and officers’ call system, field sensors, ball valves, shaft torque meters and watch alarm.

Grandi Navi Veloci’s cruise ferries fleet consists now of seven modern vessels all equipped with an ABB integrated control and automation system.