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Renk Tacke Wins Planetary Gear Unit Order From Mitsubishi The German corporation of Renk Tacke, a subsidiary of MAN B&W, has won an order from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) to build the largest marine planetary gear unit the company has yet produced. The unit is intended for a VLCC tanker which will be equipped with two contra-rotating propellers. Both propellers are to be arranged co-axially and driven by a low-speed diesel engine of 20,600 kw power (28,000 HP). The contra-rotating propeller has been a known principle for ap- proximately 150 years, primarily being utilized for outboard motors or for naval torpedo applications. However, in 1983 Japan contracted out a study to explore the possibili- ties of using such drive systems onboard merchant vessels. This was closely followed by the construction of a 4,000-kw (5,400-HP) car-carry- ing vessel in 1988. The results of the study spon- sored by the Japanese concluded that even larger merchant vessels could be equipped with such drive sys- tems. The advantages were as follows: • Fuel savings of up to 20 percent (with the above car carrier 13.5 per- cent of energy savings were at- tained on average). • The reduction of environmen- tal pollution due to reduced fuel requirements. • As to the maneuverability, im- provement of course stability be- came obvious with regard to the directional stability of the vessel. • Low noise and vibration devel- opment. Several years ago, Renk Tacke was supplying 13,000-kw (18,000 HP) marine planetary gear units for container vessels. The largest ma- rine gear unit ever built by Renk Tacke transmits a power value of 46,000 HP. For additional information on Renk Tacke and its marine plan- etary gear units, Circle 51 on Reader Service Card SPD Technologies Elects Colangelo President Larry A. Colangelo The board of directors of SPD Technologies Inc. recently an- nounced the election of Larry A. Colangelo as president and chief operating officer of SPD Technolo- gies and its subsidiaries. George M. Gordon, chairman, also announced that Mr. Colangelo was elected a director of SPD and will serve on the executive commit- tee of the board of directors. In making the announcement, Mr. Gordon said this move will strengthen SPD's ability to continue to position itself as one of the nation's premier suppliers of electrical dis- tribution components and systems, ship control and interior communi- cations systems, combat systems overhaul, and repair services for the U.S. Navy. SPD Technologies is one of the nation's largest producers of mili- tary circuit breakers and switch gear, and a leader in the develop- ment and manufacture of high-reli- ability shipboard systems as well as ship overhaul and repair services. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pa., the company has operations across the nation and serves military mar- kets worldwide. Maritime Reporter/Engineering News Circle 297 on Reader Service Card Shipboard Solutions for the 90's • Systems Automation Announcing Systems • Air Flow Monitoring • Moveable Pelorus • Whistle Timers Henschel An SPD Technobgies Company 9 Hoyt Drive, Newburyport, MA 01950 Telephone (508) 462-2400 Visit us at ASNE Exhibition Booth 250-251
