Disclosed herein is a trimmable pod drive assembly that includes a pod drive unit having a transmission assembly secured to a steering unit, a gear case assembly coupled to and rotatable by the steering unit about a steering axis, and a propeller rotatable about a propeller driveshaft axis extending through the gear case assembly so as to generate thrust along a thrust vector. The trimmable pod drive assembly further includes a trim assembly secured to the pod drive unit in a manner allowing for rotation of the pod drive unit about a trim axis that is substantially perpendicular to the steering axis, wherein actuation of at least one component of the trim assembly causes movement of the pod drive unit and the thrust vector about the trim axis.

A vessel and a method in a vessel with a hull and a propulsion unit. The propulsion unit comprises a hollow strut rotatably attached to the hull of the vessel, a propeller shaft having an axial centre line and being positioned and supported in the lower portion of the strut with bearings, a propeller being attached to at least one end of the propeller shaft protruding from the lower portion of the strut, and an electric motor driving the propeller shaft. An additional support arrangement is positioned at least in one end portion of the propeller shaft axially outwards from the bearings. The support arrangement comprises a first support surface formed in connection with the propeller shaft and a second support surface mating with the first support surface and being formed in connection with the lower portion of the strut. The second support surface is positioned at a predetermined distance from the first support surface so that a slot is formed between the first support surface and the second support surface facing towards each other. The being of the propeller shaft due to external loads acting on the propeller is restricted to a predetermined maximum value with the support surfaces.

There is provided a wireless communication system for a marine propulsor, comprising: a transmitter; a receiver; and a waveguide, arranged to convey an electromagnetic data signal between the transmitter and the receiver; wherein the waveguide comprises an electrically non-conductive solid or liquid medium for propagating the electromagnetic data signal.

The present invention is directed to a modular azimuth thruster (1) for propelling a vessel, having a thruster housing (1) around which water flows, and comprising: a standardized core unit (2) having a core unit housing (21) forming part of the thruster housing, a transmission line (6) arranged within in the core unit housing (21), comprising a propeller shaft (61) extending in a longitudinal direction (13) of the thruster housing, and a propeller (3) arranged outside the thruster housing and being operationally connected to the propeller shaft. The present invention further relates to a vessel comprising an azimuth thruster and a method of configuring an azimuth thruster.

A bearing device providing at least one bearing, an acquisition device having at least one optical fiber attached at least partly to the bearing configured to measure at least one first parameter relative to the bearing, an optical interrogator coupled to the at least one optical fiber configured to process the at least one first parameter so as to obtain at least one second parameter, and having a transmitting antenna connected to the at least one optical fiber configured to process the at least one first parameter, and a receiving antenna cooperating with the transmitting antenna configured to send wirelessly the at least one second parameter.

Disclosed are a canister type thruster for implementing smooth upward/downward movement and improving productivity and an installation method thereof. The canister type thruster includes a guide module for guiding upward/downward movement of a canister. The guide module includes: a guide unit that is installed on an inner surface of a trunk so as to support a rack installed on an outer surface of the canister in parallel with a lifting direction to guide the upward/downward movement of the canister; a sliding pad that relieves an impact or a friction applied to the guide unit; and a support protrusion that is provided between the guide unit and the sliding pad to support the sliding pad.

Disclosed are a canister type thruster for implementing smooth upward/downward movement and improving productivity and an installation method thereof. The canister type thruster includes a guide module for guiding upward/downward movement of a canister. The guide module includes: a guide unit that is installed on an inner surface of a trunk so as to support a rack installed on an outer surface of the canister in parallel with a lifting direction to guide the upward/downward movement of the canister, a sliding pad that relieves an impact or a friction applied to the guide unit; and a support protrusion that is provided between the guide unit and the sliding pad to support the sliding pad.

A watercraft system is provided. The watercraft system includes a hull and a plurality of removable pods. Each pod has a different operational characteristic to alter the configuration of the watercraft depending on which pod is inserted. The hull has a pod opening for receiving a selected one of the removable pods. A method and apparatus for transitioning various ones of the pods between different positions is also provided.

[Problems]

To reduce the fuel consumption without impairing operational safety of the ship

[Solution to Problem]

A ship 10 configured to obtain propelling force by driving a main propeller 11 with a main engine 12 is provided with an additional propeller 20 and a driving unit therefore. The additional propeller 20 is disposed at a ship bottom or at a rising section of the ship bottom, in a position different from the main propeller 11. Further, the output of the driving unit of the additional propeller 20 is 25% or less than the output of the driving unit of the main engine, and the operating condition can be selectable between regular operating condition in which propelling force is obtained by driving the main propeller 11 and die other operating condition in that propelling force is obtained by driving the additional propeller 20.

A device for supporting a propulsor on a marine vessel. The device includes a base that is fixable to the marine vessel and a pivot arm for coupling the propulsor to the base. An actuator is configured to pivot the pivot arm relative to the base into and between a retracted position and a deployed position. A fastener is engageable to couple the actuator to the pivot arm, where when the fastener is engaged the pivot arm is prevented from pivoting other than by the actuator, and where applying a predetermined force on the pivot arm disengages the fastener to allow the pivot arm to pivot other than by the actuator.