The Promas integrated propeller and rudder system. (Kongsberg Maritime)
Kongsberg Maritime has started marketing its Promas propulsion system to navies after concluding research that demonstrated it could deliver fuel savings, greater range, and improved manoeuvrability for naval platforms.
Promas, which was originally designed for commercial ships, combines the rudder and propeller into one unit to make the transition of water streamlined. Most naval twin-screw vessels use conventional rudder and propeller systems placed off-centre from the shaft centreline.
Kongsberg's research, which was carried out by the company's Hydrodynamic Research Centre (HRC) in Sweden, demonstrated that naval vessels relying on traditional rudder and propeller systems could operate more efficiently – with fuel savings of more than 5% – and increase manoeuvrability when equipped with a Promas integrated propeller and rudder system. This fuel savings could translate to extended range, boosting the capability of naval platforms in critical situations, the company said.
Announcing the research findings at the DSEI 2023 exhibition in London, Patrik Kron, Kongsberg Maritime's chief of naval systems, said the company had known for many years that Promas brings a quick improvement in efficiency for commercial operators, and the latest research was able to demonstrate how these benefits could be offered to naval customers.
“This [is] a technical solution, which is available for ship types up to and a little beyond 25 kt, and it has been verified both in extensive model testing and also on full-scale tests,” he told Janes.
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