Azipod® is a podded electric propulsion unit where the variable speed electric motor driving the fixed pitch propeller is in a submerged pod outside the ship hull, and the pod can be rotated around its vertical axis to give the propulsion thrust freely to any direction. Thus the ship does not need rudders, stern transversal thrusters or long shaftlines inside the ship hull.
Azipod propulsion system was introduced some 20 years ago and the system has gained a position of a major propulsion system for luxury cruise liners and ice going tonnage. The concept has many benefits. Due to the azimuthing propulsion its manoevrability is excellent, it saves space inside the vessel hull and gives a lot of freedom for ship design. Especially in ice going vessels the system improves the performance in ice operation. However, the most important benefit of the system is reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.