Page 83: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2017)

Steerprop & the Switch

New Propulsor

Leverages PM Tech

Finnish collaborators unveiled a new propulsion without compromising on hydrodynamics and lower- unit. Azimuth propulsion specialist Steerprop has ing operational costs.

rolled out its new CRP ECO LM propulsor featuring According to Steerprop, its CRP ECO LM propul- permanent magnet (PM) technology from The Switch. sor is especially suited to harsh environment operation

Steerprop has been developing propulsion units and the demands of ice breaking, having received the since 2001, while The Switch, a developer of ad- highest ice classi? cation. It is robust and, thanks to vanced drive train solutions, has been using its tech- its lightly loaded CRPs, offers lower noise and vibra- nology to enhance performance in marine applica- tions, enhancing levels of comfort onboard.

tions. The PM machine, currently in serial production, The Switch entered the marine segment in 2013, has a track record in the world’s largest wind turbines acquiring Wärtsilä Drives in Norway in November in rough offshore conditions.The new Steerprop CRP last year. The business, part of the €3.3 billion turn-

ECO LM propulsor utilizes a vertical PM motor, al- over Yaskawa Electric Corporation, is now targeting lowing it to sit inside a vessel hull, which simpli? es growth of 200 percent in the sector across the course installation and maintenance, the developers said. of the next ? ve years.

www.theswitch.com

When the motor is placed on top of the thruster, the www.steerprop.com

Image: Steerprop / The Switch unit size can be more compact, increasing ef? ciency www.marinelink.com 83

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