Spanish Navy selects ABB propulsion system for new hydrographic vessels

May 18, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

ABB has secured a contract with Spanish state-owned shipbuilding and design company Navantia to supply two forthcoming Spanish Navy coastal hydrographic vessels (BHC) with a complete DC-based power distribution and propulsion system.

The vessels, scheduled for delivery by 2028, will be used for mapping and studying Spain’s coastal waters. According to the program’s scope, they will also support national defence tasks, environmental monitoring, and maritime safety operations.

Under the contract, ABB will deliver its Onboard DC Grid system combined with a PEMS power and energy management system. The package also includes transformers, thruster motors, and battery systems.

The company will be responsible for full system integration, including engineering, testing, and commissioning for its scope of supply.

The Onboard DC Grid is a modular electrical power system designed for specialised vessels operating in demanding environments.

According to ABB, it enables flexible integration of power sources and energy storage systems, while supporting improved efficiency and reduced fuel consumption. In combination with the PEMS platform, the system is intended to optimise overall energy use, including variable speed generation and future hybrid or alternative energy inputs.

“ABB has shown to be a dependable and capable technology partner over our two previous collaborations involving the Spanish Navy. This collaboration will enhance the new hydrographic vessels performance and energy efficiency,” commented Alberto Cervantes, Director of Corvettes and Maritime Action Ships Business, Navantia.

“The forthcoming coastal hydrographic vessels will operate in demanding environments, where the energy efficiency, reliability and flexibility of ABB’s Onboard DC Grid will prove invaluable.”

“We are honored that Navantia and the Spanish Navy have once again chosen ABB’s power solution for these two new coastal hydrographic vessels,” stated Sindre Satre, Business Line Manager, Coast Guard and Navy, ABB’s Marine & Ports division.

The agreement follows earlier projects between the companies, including the retrofit of the Spanish Navy’s flagship Juan Carlos I with an electric propulsion system based on Azipod units, as well as a separate DC power system contract for the BAM-IS Poseidon, used for submarine rescue and underwater operations.

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Vessels

ABB has also recently secured contracts in the naval and coast guard sector with operators in Canada, Finland, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium, as part of its broader portfolio in marine electrification and propulsion systems.