Propulsion Concept News

At GasTech 2025 in Milan, Everllence signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ABB and OceanWings to jointly develop an optimized propulsion concept that builds upon Everllence’s and ABB’s existing DFE+ (Diesel-Electric with variable speed) concept.The concept enables high engine efficiency, even at partial loads; operational flexibility through multiple engines; and future integration of sustainable energy sources like batteries and fuel cells.With growing regulatory and financial pressure to reduce emissions and the technological maturity of wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS)…

Technology group Wärtsilä has secured a contract to supply an integrated hybrid propulsion solution for four new 10,700 DWT geared tween decker vessels being built for Dutch ship owner and maritime service provider Vertom Group.Combining the Wärtsilä 25 medium-speed four-stroke engine with a hybrid propulsion drive train with PTO/PTI/PTH, the package is designed to optimize vessel propulsion efficiency, while enabling sailing modes on batteries without using combustion power.The 10…

Finland's Steerprop expanded its range of retractable thrusters with its biggest unit to date. Designed for offshore vessels and workboats that need high-performance station-keeping or thrust boost capabilities, the SP 45 R will be introduced on several offshore, renewables and special purpose vessels.Working with vessel operators and designers, Steerprop identified that the sealing and locking mechanisms are often a weak point for retractable designs. The R series minimizes downtime…

Globally recognized maritime research institute MARIN has verified that efficiency levels modeled for ABB Dynafin™ propulsion concept will convert to real-world ship performance gains, following tests at its Concept Basin in the Netherlands.Launched in May 2023, after a decade of development, ABB Dynafin™ consists of a main electric motor that powers the rotation of a large horizontal wheel which supports vertical blades – each controlled by an individual motor to mimic the motion of a whale’s tail.

New Dual Fuel, Electric+ (DFE+) concept, developed by ABB and MAN Energy Solutions, has been recognized by DNV as a more energy efficient alternative to current conventional designs for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.DNV has quantified the gains that owners of LNG carriers could expect to achieve using the new DFE+ solution and found that it could help LNG carriers boost energy efficiency by up to 7.5%, therefore enabling greater emissions reduction.The number takes into account the smaller machinery space requirements with ‘a conservative estimate’ of 5% greater cargo capacity…

The new Orca Class heavy-lift vessels being built at China's Wuhu Shipyard for the Jumbo-SAL-Alliance will be propelled by SCHOTTEL ControllablePropellers (SCP).The four-bladed controllable pitch propellers type SCP 129 will feature an input power of up to 8,810 kW and a propeller diameter of six meters.Jumbo-SAL-Alliance is a commercial joint venture between German shipping company SAL Heavy Lift and Netherlands-based Jumbo Shipping. Their new Orca Class, which includes four firm and two optional vessels…

Marine propulsion specialist Schottel will equip four Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) being built by the Norwegian VARD Group with full propulsion packages.The package per vessel consists of two SCHOTTEL Dynamic RudderPropellers type SRP 460 D, one SCHOTTEL Retractable RudderPropeller type SRP 380 R, and two SCHOTTEL TransverseThrusters type STT 5. The vessels are being built for Norwegian offshore wind vessel owner Edda Wind.“Being part of the Edda Wind fleet fills us with great pride,” says SCHOTTEL CEO Stefan Kaul.

ABB on Wednesday introduced what it said was a concept representing "revolutionary propulsion system breaking new ground for efficiency in the marine industry, inspired by the dynamic motions of a whale’s tail." The innovative concept is called ABB Dynafin.The new propulsion concept features a main electric motor that powers a large wheel rotating at a moderate 30-80 rounds per minute. Vertical blades, each controlled by an individual motor and control system, extend from the wheel.

Engine manufacturer MAN Energy Solutions and technology company ABB will work together to develop a dual-fuel electric plant concept for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, engineered as part of the companies' efforts to help the international shipping industry reduce its emissions footprint.Under a Memorandum of Understanding, signed at September’s SMM trade show in Hamburg, the two companies will develop a Dual-Fuel, Electric+ (DFE+) propulsion system concept based on MAN’s new 49/60DF four stroke engine and ABB’s Dynamic AC (DAC) power distribution and control system.

Rolls-Royce announced it has secured a contract to supply eight of its mtu 16V 4000 M65L engines for four 80-ton bollard pull tugboats to be built by Detroit Brasil, Ltda. and operated by Starnav Servicos Maritimos Ltda. The new tugs will feature a hybrid propulsion system, combining the mtu engines and mtu Blue Vision New Generation (BVNG) monitoring system with Z-drive thrusters, hybrid components and controls from Schottel, a manufacturer of propulsion and steering systems…

A methanol-operated fuel cell system from Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has received approval in principle (AIP) from classification society DNV GL, setting the course for further testing aboard the cruise ship AidaNova as soon as 2021.Converting the approximately 100,000 commercial ships on the world’s oceans to CO2-neutral propulsion systems is one of the maritime industry's greatest challenges. Since a large part of this fleet is operated on the high seas, the range of any new propulsion systems must be able to cover vast distances.

Naval Group has unveiled its new SMX 31 E submarine concept, integrating the latest digital technologies for reinforced operational efficiency and improved versatility. Stealthier thanks to her biomimetic covering, the ship also benefits from an unmatched electrical energy storage capacity and a new propulsion concept.The new sub is designed to deliver upon Naval Group's long-term vision. The French-based company said its naval architects considered operational needs expressed…

ExxonMobil is supplying Mobilgard ADL 40 engine oil for Color Hybrid, Color Line’s latest addition to its fleet of ferries. The vessel is the world’s largest plug-in battery hybrid ship and was recently named ‘ship of the year 2019’ by Nor-Shipping.The vessel, which is already in service between Sandefjord, Norway, and Strömstad, Sweden, is capable of carrying 2,000 passengers and 500 cars. It combines four conventional Rolls-Royce Bergen B33:45L in-line diesel engines with electric…

In a close collaboration with Svitzer of Denmark, SCHOTTEL has developed a new hybrid propulsion concept. The new concept is based on the recent SCHOTTEL Y-Hybrid thruster technology and connects a port and starboard mounted azimuth thruster in a vessel with each other. This makes it possible to drive two thrusters with either one of the main engines. The companies are now discussing a pilot project to retrofit an existing tug with the new mechanical hybrid technology. This will transform the direct driven vessel into a greener and more cost-efficient vessel.

SCHOTTEL has signed a contract with Damen Shipyards to equip the first fully-electric vessels to operate in Canada.The new Amherst Island and Wolfe Island ferries will be propelled by four SCHOTTEL Twin Propellers STP 260 FP, each with an input power of up to 550 kW. The main propulsion is provided by batteries with a diesel engine as backup to ensure mobility. The propulsion concept implies a power intake increase up to 650 kW due to an enhanced draught provided by the batteries. In accordance with their field of operation in the Lake Ontario/St.

Volvo Penta unveiled a hybrid concept for its IPS propulsion system with an electric-only mode that allows entry into environmentally sensitive zones, as well as offering enhanced onboard comfort and boat handling characteristics.This closely follows the company's announcement that it will provide electrified power solutions for both land and sea by 2021The IPS hybrid variant will allow boats to operate in the low-and-zero emission zones that are expected to be introduced in the coming years…

In connection with the Gastech 2017 conference and exhibition in Tokyo, project partners Consolidated Marine Management (CMM), Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), Wärtsilä Oil & Gas, and DNV GL presented the results of a joint industry project (JIP) to develop a new LPG fuelled carrier design – LPGreen. Launched at the Posidonia trade fair in 2016, the JIP sought to develop a more energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and safer vessel for the transportation of LPG products. “In order to increase the competitiveness of modern LPG carriers, novel ship designs need to simultaneously account for the market and trade route characteristics…

Since it started publishing in 1939, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News has recognized excellence in ship construction. Japan Marine United Corporation delivered the 14,000 TEU container ship NYK Blue Jay, which is chartered by Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK), the first of 10 that the shipyard is building for NYK for operation on the Asia-European shipping lanes. While on the outside NYK Blue Jay may appear a standard containership, inside it is anything…

Tokyo-based Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) Group is not only one of the world’s largest ship owners with a diverse fleet of more than 800 ships, it is a growing global maritime logistics powerhouse. Maritime Reporter & Engineering News visited with Yasuo Tanaka, Senior Managing Corporate Officer, Naval Architect, in Tokyo for his insights on the company’s continued efforts to invest in operational efficiency. The story of NYK cannot start without a look at the numbers, because the numbers tell the story in a most impressive fashion.

It is one of the world's most important trade ports: the Egyptian port of Alexandria, a metropolis of some 4 million inhabitants. Located right on the western end of the Nile Delta, the port handles container and cruise vessels bound for the Suez Canal. Following the opening of the Suez Canal expansion in August, Egypt is hoping for a significant increase in transiting vessels. The Port Authority has placed orders for a total of four new additional port tugs equipped with Voith Schneider Propellers (VSP) with two Egyptian shipyards.

French LNG containment specialist GTT, along with French containerline CMA CGM (and its subsidiary CMA Ships) and classification society DNV GL have released a technical and feasibility study for a new mega boxship dubbed the Piston Engine Room Free Efficient Containership (PERFECt), which could get rid of engine rooms all together. The concept vessel is LNG-fuelled, powered by a combined gas and steam turbine, and is electrically driven. Exploring this novel configuration resulted in the partners identifying and analyzing a propulsion concept that has the potential to offer a more efficient, more flexible and greener box ship design than current 20,000 TEU two-stroke diesel engine driven ultra large container vessels.

The Fairplay fleet in Rotterdam welcomes two new members: The hybrid tractor tugs Fairplay IX and Fairplay XI, each equipped with a SCHOTTEL hybrid propulsion system including two SCHOTTEL Rudderpropellers SRP 4000 with hybrid gearboxes, two electric motors and an integrated steering control system, specialized for hybrid propulsion. Tugs are required to fulfill a variety of daily tasks, covering the full power spectrum, from stand by periods to towing operations. The installed hybrid propulsion concept enables the Fairplay tugs to operate with an optimal power output, SCHOTTEL said.

The new fisheries research vessel of the Shanghai Ocean University will be a first for Voith in several respects. It is the first fisheries research vessel world-wide to use the proven Voith Schneider Propeller (VSP) propulsion concept. And it is the first offshore order Voith has received from a Chinese customer. With its two 28R5 ECS/234-2 Voith Schneider Propellers, the research vessel with a length of 81.6 meters and a beam of 14.2 meters reaches a maximum speed of approximately 15 knots.