Damen Optima Nozzle: A Boon for Inland Shippers

Damen Optima Nozzle is a big advantage for the North American inland shipping sector. The propeller nozzle developed and manufactured by Damen Shipyards Group's subsidiary Damen Marine Components (DMC) is suited for a wide spectrum of maritime uses and yields the most benefits for inland shipping operators, according to the manufacturer.

“Using the Damen Optima has many advantages,” said DMC Managing Director Steef Staal. “And it’s these that we want to pass on to our North American customers.”

“Looking at today’s inland shipping operators in Europe, you’ll see that everyone uses a nozzle.” One of the main reasons of the dominance of nozzles is the use of skew-type propellers, whose rounded profile successfully addresses the historical problem of sediment and debris blockage.

“This is a very important factor for inland vessel and push boat captains: they need to be able to count on optimum stopping distances. In fact, when you consider performance and stopping distance, the Optima is a world leader.”

“It is better in other aspects too: fuel use and exhaust emissions are decreased; thus reducing fuel costs and improving air quality.”

DMC tailors the propeller frequency specifically for each vessel, thus reducing sound and vibration levels. This makes life more pleasant for the crew and is also important when inland waterways pass through urban areas.

“Of course the North American inland shipping sector is a substantial market for Damen. Our new office will allow us to really concentrate on what we do best: listening to, and then acting on, what our customers need,” Staal concluded.