Voith inline propulsor for jack-up vessel

The inline thruster is rated at 1,500kW and has an inner propeller diameter of 2,300mm. Voith is systematically expanding its thruster series and the Voith Inline Thruster/Voith Inline Propulsor (VIT/VIP) series starts with type 240-10, which means an inner propeller diameter of 240mm at an output of 10kW. Previously, the VIT/VIP 850-300 was the most powerful unit in this class and the company aims to develop and build significantly more powerful VITs in future.

The principle of a propeller drive with a permanently excited electric motor housed in the hollow shaft and no maintenance requirements owing to sea water-lubricated bearings has also proven itself in larger vessels. Currently under construction at the Chinese shipbuilder Cosco Shipyard, the jack-up vessel of the Danish shipowner A2Sea is the best proof of this. Voith aims to develop and build significantly more powerful VIT in future.

In the jack-up vessel, whose design originates from Gusto MSC, the VIT supports the three Voith Schneider Propellers (VSP) of the size 36R6ECR/285-2 as an additional drive system. Voith will deliver the VIT by August 2011 and the launch of the vessel is scheduled for early 2012.