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Leading rudder manufacturer Becker Marine Systems GmbH & Co. KG and engine specialist MAN Diesel & Turbo SE. have signed a cooperation agreement to further develop integrated propulsion and manoeuvring solutions that will aim to improve efficiency and lower fuel consumption as a result.

Commenting on the reason for the collaboration between both German firms, Becker said: "Both the manoeuvring and rudder specialists and the propeller and propulsion specialists of the marine industry have in parallel optimized their solutions in way of efficiency. And with great success efficiency gains have been exploited over time. The next step for further refinement and optimisation requires a more holistic approach to all the design parameters associated with integrated aft ship solutions."

Both companies agree that new possibilities are offered by today's advanced flow and pressure simulation tools like e.g. CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics), where the aim will be to achieve further improvements in thrust management, propulsion efficiency, cavitation control and noise reduction in order to improve manoeuvrability, lower fuel consumption and reduce exhaust gas emissions.

The aim of the Becker/MAN cooperation agreement is to further develop and optimize integrated propulsion and manoeuvring solutions related to:

* Complementary design for MDT propulsion bulb and BMS high performance rudders
* Combined optimisation of propellers and energy saving devices
* Steerable nozzles, high-efficient nozzle profiles and alignment with propellers

Klaus Deleroi, Senior Vice President and Head of MAN Diesel & Turbo's Business Unit Medium Speed, expressed his satisfaction with the agreement: "Both parties, Becker and MAN, have unique engineering know how to offer each other, and we have great expectations to the combination and outcome of these key competences."

The cooperation agreement is due to last for five years, with Becker's Hamburg department and MAN's Aft Ship Unit in Frederikshavn, Denmark being the principal locations affected by the new deal.

Pictured: Promas - Integrated propeller/rudder system by Rolls-Royce