Becker: New Composite Rudder Flap and Stock

 

Becker is continuously developing propulsion components with new or better properties. One of Becker's approaches - along with Bureau Veritas - is the use of new materials such as carbon composites. Carbon fiber provides two main advantages: On the one hand, weight savings of more than 50 percent enable easier handling during transport and assembly, making this suitable for advanced naval applications focusing on light-weight structures. On the other hand, a reduction of raw material waste of 60 percent compared to forged steel helps achieve a lower carbon footprint. Due to the huge potential of composite materials it is expected that the number of composites and their application in merchant shipping will rise in future.

 

Especially for smaller components – like rudder flaps – composite materials enable the manufacture of hull surfaces with better propulsion properties such as a slim design provides less drag and improved lift. Composite rudder flaps are available for all types of Becker high-efficiency rudders such as FKSR, SA/SC and Heracles rudders. Becker also offers composite material for rudder stocks. The weight of a rudder stock for a 8,400 TEU container ship e.g. can be reduced from 72.2t to 26.6t by using the new material. By specially adapting the fiber arrangement to meet the requirements for each different type of rudder, Becker ensures long equipment service life at the lowest operating costs.