H850 – AZIPOD® SPACE SAFETY  

Ensure the safety of your vessel, equipment and crew. Learn how to identify hazards and mitigate risk 
in the motor unit environment. with the H850 – Azipod® Space Safety course.

COURSE OVERVIEW

The ABB Marine Academy H850 – Azipod® Space Safety course gives your crew the skills, confidence, and awareness they need to work safely in one of the vessel’s most hazardous environments: the Azipod® unit space.


By building a strong understanding of the risks involved and teaching safe entry practices, the course helps reduce accidents, strengthen compliance, improve readiness in case of an emergency, and elevate overall onboard safety culture. They also gain practical experience with PPE, fall‑protection equipment, rescue operations, and first‑aid techniques specifically adapted for confined‑space situations.

 

Designed for all deck, engine, and electro‑technical personnel who take part in Azipod® maintenance or entry operations, this 3–4-day program blends expert‑led instruction with group work and real‑world scenarios. Your team leaves with improved readiness, stronger risk awareness, and the competence needed to protect themselves and others.

Information on the H850 – Azipod® Space Safety training course

  • Duration: 4 Days
  • Venue: Helsinki, Finland
  • Prerequisites: Satisfactory health condition to work inside a confined space
  • Additional information: Minimum 6, maximum 8 participants
  • Student profile: All deck, engine and electro-technical personnel responsible for Azipod® entry operations and those personnel who conduct Azipod® space maintenance

Upon completion of this course the participants will be able to:

  • Identify the different hazards risks and the possible consequences when working inside the Azipod® unit's space
  • Enter and work safely inside the Azipod® unit space
  • Understand the duties of confined space personnel (Entrant, Attendant, Supervisor and Rescuer)
  • Attend an Entrant during normal entry
  • Assist during an emergency

General topics:

  • Electrical Safety concerning Azipod® Entry
  • Azipod propulsion as an engineering system
  • Occupational risks with Azipod® propulsion
  • Confined space regulation
  • Duties of involved personnel
  • Typical Azipod unit entries and entry procedures
  • Traumatology (First Aid in a confined space)
  • MS Windows 7/’10, MS Windows ’08/’10 In-dustrial IT with OPC protocol
  • Rescue operations
  • Use of protective equipment required for safe entry (different PPE, fall protection etc.)
  • Entry to the Azipod® space-simulator
  • Evacuating an injured person from the Azipod® space -simulator
  • Rescue action plan for the Azipod® space -simulator

Methods of learning in this course include:

  • Lectures, group discussions and group work
  • Exercises in simulated space

COURSE OUTLINE

<p>The course runs over five days and an example of the typical agenda can be seen below:</p>

Day 1

<ul> <li>Azipod® propulsion basic knowledge</li> <li>Basics of confined space regulation</li> <li>Electrical system overview and safety</li> </ul>

Day 2

<ul> <li>Ship spaces and occupational risks with Azipod® units</li> <li>Pre-entry planning, involved personnel and rescue actions</li> <li>Four hours of First Aid by Red Cross instructor</li> </ul>

Day 3

<ul> <li>Practical exercises in the Azipod® space simulator</li> <li>Normal entry</li> <li>Emergency evacuation simulated exercise</li> </ul>

Day 4

<ul> <li>Azipod® Factory Tour</li> <li>Final exercise: accident in confined space</li> <li>Course closing</li> </ul>

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

<p>Learn more about how the H850 – Azipod® Space Safety can benefit your fleet with our frequently asked questions.</p>

H850 is designed for all deck, engine, and electro‑technical personnel involved in Azipod® entry operations, maintenance, inspections, or emergency duties. Anyone who enters or supports work in the Azipod® space must understand these safety protocols.

Azipod® units are confined spaces with unique risks, including limited access, fall hazards, PPE requirements, and emergency‑extraction challenges. Without proper training, personnel and vessel safety may be compromised. H850 ensures crew can anticipate hazards, prevent incidents, and act decisively if an emergency occurs.

Participants complete hands‑on sessions in an Azipod® space‑simulator, including:

  • Safe entry and exit procedures
  • Emergency rescue and evacuation
  • PPE and fall‑protection practice
  • First‑aid and traumatology scenarios
  • These realistic simulations help crews build real confidence and readiness

The simulator allows personnel to rehearse dangerous, high‑risk scenarios without exposure to real danger. This builds rapid, instinctive responses that significantly improve safety readiness during live operations.

 

After completing H850, operators gain crew who can:

  • Work safely in the Azipod® environment
  • Prevent accidents and costly downtime
  • Execute reliable emergency response procedures
  • Strengthen vessel‑wide safety culture
  • Reduce operational risk during maintenance and inspections

This enhances safety, compliance, efficiency, and operational uptime across the fleet.

If your personnel enter the Azipod® unit, supervise entry, support rescue operations, or work near confined spaces, H850 certification is essential to ensure regulatory compliance and operational safety.