Schottel propels new diving bell ship

The vessel is being built at Dutch shipbuilder, Damen Shipyards Gorinchem. The order was placed by FMSW Koblenz on behalf of the federal waterways and shipping administration.

The 69 metre diving bell ship is powered by a total of three electric-powered azimuth thrusters; two rudderpropellers and a SPJ 82 (340 kW) pump jet. Both rudderpropellers type SRP 150 FP (330 kW each) have a ducted propeller diameter of 1.10 m, which provides the necessary thrust and enables the diving bell ship to reach a vessel speed of at least 7 knots.

The new diving bell ship, which will replace the existing Carl Straat built in 1963, is currently unique in Europe. It is used to locate and recover lost cargo or wreckage and is also deployed for work on the river bed or for the inspection of structures at locks and weirs.

The ship can also be used for mooring buoys in gravel or rock areas and to carry out sampling and drilling using nitrogen freezing. The modern diving bell system, including lifting device, makes future operation of the ship possible without a lowering of the water level.

Commissioning is scheduled for the end of 2020.