STX and Schottel cooperate in production of propulsors

The South Korean company STX Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. and the German propulsion specialist Schottel, will be cooperating in the area of large Rudderpropeller systems for underwater installation such as used on drilling rigs. Within the framework of a corresponding licence agreement, STX will manufacture Rudderpropellers covering a power range from 2,000 to 5,800 kW, while Schottel will supply the core components for these systems in the form of the L gearbox. The first STX-Schottel Rudderpropellers are due for delivery in the second half of 2010.

Following the decision of Spay-based Schottel several years ago, for reasons of capacity, to cease production of large propulsion systems for drilling rigs and to concentrate on steerable propulsion systems, particularly for passenger vessels, ferries, tugs and offshore supply vessels, Schottel is now re-entering this market with a strong partner at its side. STX is responsible for the project management and sales.

The licence agreement signed on 28 January 2009 at the Schottel headquarters in Spay/Rhine by Kang-Sik Rhee, president and ceo of STX Heavy Industries, and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Jensen, ceo of SCHOTTEL GmbH, covers South Korea, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and India, as well as all shipyards owned by the STX Group. According to Professor Jensen, an extension of this licence to cover large retractable systems is conceivable.