Rim-driven thrusters enter the mainstream

摘要

Innate conservatism among shipowners means new technology isn't always adopted as quickly as it might be. Rim-driven thrusters are a case in point. The technology and its advantages have been understood and prototypes tested for several years but it is only recently that production equipment has been installed on vessels. In September 2012, at the SMM exhibition and conference in Hamburg, Rolls-Royce confirmed it had delivered the first of its recently developed permanent magnet tunnel thrusters (TT-PM) to Norwegian company Olympic Shipping, which will operate it on its vessel Olympic Octopus.