Schottel has further expanded its portfolio with the addition of a new underwater mountable thruster designed for offshore vessels, rigs, cable laying vessels, offshore construction and crane ships.
The 5.5 MW SRP 800 U rudder propeller is a underwater mountable thruster that can be installed afloat and is ideal for vessels that cannot be docked easily due to their size or area of operation.
“As a result of customer requests, Schottel decided to further develop the robust, well-proven rudder propeller technology in the power range up to 5.5 MW,” said Roland Schwandt, sales director tug & offshore energy, Schottel.
He added that calculations for increasing the power went hand in hand with developments for greater installation flexibility and higher safety factors that exceed the strict requirements of the classification society.
This means that customers not only benefit from the rolling-contact bearings, but also from the double-checked seals with a longer service life, added Mr Schwandt.
The SRP 800 U has also been optimised with a focus on maximum market coverage in terms of fit variability which makes it ideal both for new installation and as a replacement unit.
In addition, two stem variants open up a broad application spectrum for customers. In addition to the standard version with a 90° gearbox, Schottel also offers a variant with a propeller shaft inclined by 8 degrees.
This reduces detrimental effects on the thrust of adjacent drives and interaction with the hull. In terms of flow characteristics, the azimuthing SRP 800 U thus adapts itself optimally to its area of operation, be it as a main propulsion unit in a drill ship or construction vessel, or as a positioning aid in a semi-submersible rig.