Page 56: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2026)

TECH FEATURE: GEARS & THRUSTERS “What has remained the same (since he joined the company in 2000) is

Schottel’s pioneering spirit, engineering excellence and close relationship with its customers. We are still family owned, that thinks long term and takes responsibility for its products throughout the entire life cycle.” – Roland Schwandt,

CEO, Schottel

For Schottel, the starting point is ef? ciency. “It’s no longer enough to improve the components as “Decarbonization itself is not a single product,” Brick- one single part isolated for itself,” Brickmann said. “We mann said. “For us, it’s a direction which is in? uencing have to look at the entire vessel actually, including the op- how we design, how we build and how we support the erating pro? le and the full life cycle.” propulsion system.” That is pushing Schottel toward modular products, stan-

The objective is simple: use less energy to accomplish dardized interfaces, greater cybersecurity, improved con- the same work. That means matching a hydrodynamically trol systems and designs that can be serviced and upgraded optimized propulsion system to the vessel and its operating over a vessel’s operating life. pro? le while supporting electric and hybrid architectures where appropriate. PropControl 4 Debuts “Each and every single percentage point of ef? ciency Earlier this year at SMM 2026 in Hamburg, the most makes important impact because over the years it can re- visible manifestation of that development strategy was duce the fuel consumption, emissions, operating costs,” PropControl 4, Schottel’s new modular propulsion con-

Brickmann said. trol system.

That lifecycle view matters when propulsion equipment Brickmann describes it in straightforward terms as the may remain aboard a vessel for decades. The objective, connection between the mariner on the bridge and the

Brickmann said, is to offer solutions that are “both techni- propulsion equipment below deck.

cally sound and commercially realistic.” The difference lies in the architecture and interface.

That thinking is shaping R&D, too. New bridge components are intended to make increasingly

Customers increasingly expect propulsion, electrical complex propulsion arrangements easier to operate, with power, automation and digital services to function as an improved ergonomics and haptic feedback available to as- integrated system. At the same time, crews need increas- sist crews during demanding maneuvers.

ingly sophisticated technology to remain straightforward Importantly, Schottel brought vessel operators into the to operate and maintain. development process.

56 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • November 2026

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