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Propulsion Equipment T he following editorial is a compila-tion of the latest product and com-pany news from manufacturers of propulsion-related equipment. For addi- tional information on any of the companies mentioned in the article, please circle the appropriate reader service card number, which is listed at the end of the story. North American Marine Jet, of Benton, Ark., which serves the commercial and military markets with its marine jet products, added a new line of water jets. The Traktor Jet III has an extremely high Bollard thrust-to-horsepower ratio, making it an outstanding waterjet propulsion system for craft operating at speeds up to 20 knots. The Traktor Jet III features shallow draft capabilities and a low impeller rpm operating level to negate damage from ingestion of de- bris. At 7,000 pounds Bollard pull thrust with only 450 shp, the Traktor Jet III out-pulls low geared props and achieves maximum efficiency in the 5-15 knot speed range without engine overload or over speed. The Traktor Jet IV is now in final design and testing. It is a waterjet propulsion system for large vessels or for heavy towing duty. At the design horsepower of600, the Traktor IV produces over 11,000 pounds of Bollard pull thrust at 600 rpm. North America's NOMERA bow thrusters are based on the NOMERA 14 and 20 models with adaptation for port or starboard discharge. Valves operated via hydraulic, air or mechani- cal systems provide port, starboard or neutral flow.Power requirements from 200- through 500- shp may be via direct-driven diesel engine (no gearbox or clutch) or via electric or hydraulic motor. Founded in 1928, Lips B.V. is recognized as a leading manufacturer of propellers. The com- pany has supplied more than 45,000 fixed-pitch propellers, with sizes up to 36 feet in diameter, for powers up to 48,000 kW. Since 1975, Lips has supplied more than 40 transverse tunnel thrusters in the range of 1,300- to 1,560-kW for dynamically positioned ships. Nozzles, stern- tube seals and bearings complete the company's product line. From its head office and main production facility in Drunen in The Nether- lands, Lips B.V. coordinates additional manu- facturing plants, which operate either as wholly- owned subsidiaries or as joint ventures. In addressing the challenge of steerable thrusters, in 1981 Lips pooled its own expertise with the large-thruster know-how developed over more than 30 years by Schottel-Nederland B.V. In 1989, pursuant to an agreement with Schottel, the assets of the joint venture were vested in a new, wholly-owned company, Lips Thrusters B.V. The company wages an ongoing R&D policy to continually review production methods and upgrade them for maximum effec- tiveness. Lips provides a variety of thrusters, including modular thrusters, can-mounted thrusters, containerized thrusters and retract- able thrusters. Recently, KaMeWa received an order for its new Dynamic Compensation (DC) Maneuver- ing System for three new passenger/car ferries which are under construction at the Volkswerft yard in Stralsund, Germany. The order was placed by Norwegian ferry operator Hurtigruten. The DC system is an extended version of KaMeWa's standard joystick maneuvering sys- tem, and was developed in cooperation with SSPA Maritime Consulting AB, Gothenburg. Brunvoll Thruster of Norway, a supplier of high-quality thruster systems, has delivered more than 2,500 thruster systems throughout the world since 1965. The company focuses on controllable- and fixed-pitch bow and stern thrusters; azimuthing(rotatable) thrusters; com- plete drive system packages, both diesel electric and hydraulic; and related control systems. In a recent effort to reduce operational noise, Brunvoll introduced the Brunvoll Thruster unit in resilient mounting. The unit was developed to combat noise levels of 85- to 90-db, a level common in accommoda- tion localities above and near thrusters operat- ing at full power. Recommendations for accept- able noise levels (as dictated by the Norwegian Maritime Directorate in regards to continuous operation), are 60-db for sleeping quarters and A Lips steerable thruster. 65-db for mess rooms, etc. The Brunvoll Thruster unit in a resilient mounting report- edly conquers this problem, and is reportedly easy to install, as it is supplied factory com- plete with: full-length double tunnel; connect- ing ribs on outer tunnel for welding to ship structure; fairings at in/outlets; brackets for grating; resilient mounting elements installed; seals installed; elastomeric balloons in posi- tion; zinc anodes applied; and antifouling treatment between tunnels. KaMeWa, which supplies a wide variety of propulsion products for marine applications, also recently launched a new propeller sleeve concept, a project developed jointly by KaMeWa and SKF. The propeller sleeve was designed to simplify removal and mounting of fixed-pitch propellers. Based on the oil injection method, it provides full interchangeability between operating propeller and spare propeller. In addition, it reduces the requirement for a com- plete spare propeller shaft to just a spare sleeve, an economical aspect geared to please shipowners. A Brunvoll azimuth thruster for propulsion and positioning. The fixed hull-mounted Compass Thruster from Ulstein is suitable for tugs, supply vessels and diving support vessels, to name a few. A KaMeWa SKF Propeller Sleeve System. Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
