List of Top 10 Largest Ship Propellers In The World
The world’s largest propellers power large ships, facilitating maritime trade between global economies. A ship propeller is a rotating mechanism similar to a propeller that uses the main engine to propel the ship forward. The following is a list of the largest ship propellers ever built in the maritime world.
1. Emma Maersk
This propeller, manufactured by Mecklenberger Metal GmbH in Germany, is the largest ship propeller ever built. The five-bladed propeller has a diameter of 10.3 meters and weighs 113 tons.
The propeller was manufactured by Mecklenburger Metal GmbH in Waren, Germany, and was transported by land to Hamburg in February 2014, where it was temporarily stored.
The Emma Maersk is one of the largest container ships, measuring 397 meters in length, 56 meters in width, and boasting a capacity of 15,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). It is considered to be the largest ship propeller ever built and can reach a top speed of 27 knots.
2. Hamburg Express
Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) built one of the largest ship propellers ever built in 2001 for one of the four 7,200 TEU container ships being built by Hapag-Lloyd, one of which was the Hamburg Express.
The propeller weighed 101.5 tons, had a diameter of 9.1 meters, and had six blades. It was the size of a three-story building. It was powered by the world’s most powerful diesel engine at the time, with a power output of 93,360 horsepower, a torque of 2,157 tons per minute, and a crankshaft weighing 420 tons.
3. Oasis of the Seas
The Oasis of the Seas was the largest passenger ship at the time and was equipped with one of the largest propellers ever built for a ship. These propellers, manufactured by ABB and with a diameter of 6.1 meters, powered the giant ship.
The cruise ship had three 20,000-kW electric azimuth thrusters installed under the stern to power the propellers. Since the propellers can rotate, there is no need for a rudder to steer the ship. Four 7,500 horsepower propellers also enhance the hull’s maneuverability.
4. Titanic
The Titanic was one of the largest ships of its time. In comparison, its propellers were also comparable in size. The ship had three propellers. These propellers were 7 meters 7 inches long and weighed 38 tons each. Each propeller was made of solid bronze and driven by an independent engine with a total power of up to 30,000 horsepower. Many claim that the Titanic’s propellers were the largest propellers ever built.
5. Queen Elizabeth 2
The Queen Elizabeth 2 was another huge ship with huge propellers. It had a pair of propellers, each with a diameter of 6.7 meters and weighing about 43 tons. This makes it one of the largest propellers on a ship. Its blades are designed to prolong their life.
6. Palmer
This icebreaker, designed for Antarctica, is equipped with two large propellers, each approximately 4 meters long and featuring four blades. The main engine produces more than 12,000 horsepower through two 4-meter-long propellers.
It is made of durable alloys, which ensures its durability. Norwegian manufacturers have achieved great success in manufacturing these propellers, which can reach speeds of up to 3 knots in thick ice.
7. Elatin
This Carnival cruise ship is equipped with two fixed-lift propellers, each with four blades. The propellers are 5.6 meters in diameter and weigh about 14 tons each.
8. Bismarck
The Bismarck was one of the most significant German battleships, launched in 1939 on the eve of World War II. It was equipped with three propellers, each with a diameter of 4.7 meters.
These propellers are three-bladed and made of a manganese bronze alloy. They can reach speeds of up to 270 revolutions per minute and displace 2.4 cubic meters per revolution.
9. Oakle Hong Kong
This ship, delivered in 2017, is the largest container ship ever built. It is also the first ship to have a carrying capacity exceeding 21,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
It is the flagship of the G-class container ships and is massive, measuring 399.8 meters in length and 58.8 meters in width. It has a summer draft of 16.3 meters and a gross tonnage of 212,035 tons.
The ship utilizes fixed-gear propellers for easy maneuvering. The cruise ship is also equipped with a MAN Diesel & Turbo G-type 11G95ME-C9 engine, rated at 62,382 kW, which can reach a maximum speed of 21 knots and a cruising speed of approximately 14.6 knots.
10. Norwegian Epic
Launched in 2009, the Norwegian Epic is the world’s third-largest cruise ship. It is equipped with the latest technology and has revolutionized the onboard entertainment experience.
The ship is 329.4 meters long and 40.6 meters wide, and can accommodate up to 4,200 passengers. The power plant consists of two conventional shaft drive electric motors and two Wärtsilä fixed-pitch propellers, each with a speed of 135 rpm and an output power of 24 MW.
In 2015, the ship underwent a refit that included several technical improvements, such as the installation of a Baker rudder and propeller housing, hull repainting, and the renewal of lifeboat and tender launching devices, as well as ventilation ducts. Additionally, the propellers and stabilizers were maintained, and the cooling system underwent a complete overhaul.