Zurich, Switzerland, December 12, 2024 – ABB today announced the successful completion of a modernization project for the Enkaz II, the largest sheerleg floating crane operating in the Suez Canal. By upgrading the crane's obsolete drive and control systems with state-of-the-art automation technology, ABB has helped reduce unplanned downtime by up to 70 percent, lower energy consumption by 30 percent, and significantly improve safety and operational control for the vessel's owner, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA).
The Enkaz II, with a 500-ton lift capacity, is a critical asset for salvage operations at the northern entrance of the Suez Canal in Port Said, ensuring the smooth flow of traffic along one of the world's most vital shipping arteries. Originally built in 1982, the crane's legacy DC motor control systems had become outdated and unreliable, making service support challenging and threatening operational efficiency.
“The legacy DC motor control systems powering the crane reached the end of its life-cycle, and it became very difficult to provide the necessary service support,” said Alaa Abdelbar, Port Said Shipyard Manager.
Leveraging a partnership spanning over two decades, the Suez Canal Authority selected ABB Motion Service to lead the modernization. The project involved replacing the original Ward Leonard motor-generator sets and outdated controls with a fully automated solution. The new system includes:
ABB ACS880 and DCS800 drive panels
Eight high-efficiency ABB Process Performance AC motors
Control panels centered on AC500 PLCs
An ABB SCADA system for centralized on-screen monitoring and control
“The old technology had become unreliable, and ABB offered the most suitable technical solutions to meet our demand and expectations,” said Dr. Amr El-Zaghwy, Maritime Section Head at SCA. “The new, automated equipment is much easier to use. We are very pleased with the new technology, which has also led to 20-30 percent fewer safety incidents.”
The project was commissioned in early 2023 by a collaborative team from SCA and ABB experts from Egypt and Singapore. The upgrade not only extends the operational life of the strategic Enkaz II asset but also delivers substantial economic and environmental benefits through reduced energy use and lower operating costs.
“A modernization project is a great way to extend the lifetime and enable reliability of an important asset like Enkaz II,” said Mohamed Ismail, Motion Services Division Manager for ABB Egypt, North and Central Africa. “The remarkable reduction in downtime is a critical factor for such a crane. Furthermore, our local service team can offer fast on-site support, being located only about an hour from SCA.”
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation, and motion portfolios, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 140 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 110,000 talented employees in over 100 countries.