This summer propulsion specialist SCHOTTEL celebrated its 100th anniversary with a party for its staff at the company’s headquarters in Germany. Postponed from the autumn of 2021 because of the pandemic, the gathering was an opportunity for the firm to reflect on an eventful history and dynamic present, but also to look to the future, according to SCHOTTEL chief executive officer Stefan Kaul.
“It was a great pity that we couldn’t mark the occasion as we wanted to originally, but now the world has opened up again we decided that we must celebrate,” he tells The Naval Architect.
Founded in November 1921, in the years since SCHOTTEL has established itself as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of vessel propulsion systems. The company’s products can be found on almost all types of vessels – from tugs, ferries and passenger ships to merchant vessels and the navy and governmental segments. Automation, propulsion control and hybrid propulsion systems extend the company’s product range which is supplemented by marine services.
“SCHOTTEL’s propulsion solutions have made the seven seas their home. What we do, we do wholeheartedly – in all areas, according to the same high standard, all over the world,” says Kaul.
“However, we would very much like to celebrate the next hundred years, and in order to do that we cannot maintain the status quo,” he adds. “We have to look to the future and rethink our company, always. Our history is marked by bold decisions at the right time and having the courage to take bigger and bigger steps.”
Green propulsion solutions
The development of green propulsion solutions is a key long-term business strategy for SCHOTTEL. “With more and more environmental rules and regulations coming into play, I think a lot of the answers will be found, to a certain extent, in the electrification of ships,” says Kaul. “It is becoming increasingly popular for any vessel type. We are already seeing this in the ferry and passenger ship market.”
For example, he says, SCHOTTEL has recently supplied azimuth thrusters to the latest addition to Finland-based FinFerries’ fleet, the 100m-long, 17m-wide Altera. The electrically powered hybrid ferry, which is scheduled to enter operation in 2023, is currently under construction at the Polish shipyard Crist.
The ferry’s propulsion system consists of two electrically driven SCHOTTEL EcoPellers type SRE 430 (950kW each). The SRE 430 features a propeller diameter of 2.35m. The azimuth thrusters are ice-strengthened according to Finnish-Swedish Ice Class 1B. As a result, the ferry will be able to be deployed in the icy waters of Southwest Finland at any time of the year.
Equipped with a battery capacity of 2 x 0.6MWh, Altera will service its route using only its own batteries which are charged directly from shore while loading and unloading. Diesel generator sets will serve as a backup source of power.
Thanks to an effective combination of powerful propeller thrust and a course-stabilising fin, the EcoPeller fulfils all the requirements of a modern high-performance propulsion unit. The hydrodynamically optimised design allows the EcoPeller to generate maximum steering forces and enables top values in terms of overall efficiency and course stability.
For the full article please see the Jul/Aug edition of The Naval Architect.
