Schottel EcoPellers enter tanker segment

Schottel recently received an order to supply two EcoPellers and a bow thruster for installation in a 120m long chemical/oil tanker designed by Bestway Marine Engineering Design. The tanker will be built at Chinese shipyard Taizhou Kouan Shipbuilding and will be operated by a European owner.

The vessel is powered by an electric motor, which is vertically integrated into the azimuth thruster. The propulsion system of the tanker consists of two Schottel Rudder EcoPellers type SRE 460 L FP with an input power of 2,000 kW each and one Schottel Transverse Thruster type STT 170 FP. The SRE, with a fixed pitch propeller diameter of 2.70m, will allow a service speed of 12 knots. To ensure maximum manoeuvrability, the tanker is fitted with one bow thruster.

Increased efficiency

Model tests carried out at the Chinese research institute SSRI found that when compared to a conventional rudder propeller with nozzle, the EcoPeller demonstrated a 10% increase in propulsion efficiency at a ship speed of 12 knots throughout testing.

EcoPellers covering the power range from 500 to 5,000 kW ensure high efficiency –even at very low loads. As a result, the azimuth thruster contributes to the ship’s low fuel consumption and thus reduces operating costs and emissions. In addition, the SREs improve course-keeping stability and consequently reduce steering angle corrections.