November 24, 2016

The Change from Steamships to Motorships

The use of the internal combustion engine in ships was introduced in the early 1900s, and the Royal Dutch Shell tanker Vulcanus (built 1910) was probably the first motorship. One of the leading shipyards to design and build motorships was William Doxford at Sunderland in Britain. In 1906, the Doxford yard […]
November 25, 2016

Diesel-electric propulsion system

This system involves generators producing electricity that drives an electric motor unit that turns the propeller shaft or other propulsion device such as azipods (see below). The system that drives most multi-directional tugs uses a modification of this system whereby the electric propulsion system drives the so-called “paddle-wheels” that create […]
November 25, 2016

Nuclear Power in Ships

Although it was tried in the American freighter Savannah and in the German ship Otto Hahn, nuclear power is not used by merchant ships as it is too expensive to install, the nuclear scientists that would be needed to operate the nuclear reactor on board are very scarce and very […]
November 25, 2016

Recent developments in marine propulsion

SkySails wind propulsion system   Engine, hull and propeller design More efficient engines are key to effective propulsion and therefore to fuel saving that ultimately saves money and promotes anti-pollution measures. The shape of a ship’s hull is important in determining how well she passes through the water in terms […]
November 25, 2016

Graphic displays of information and text from a variety of sources

Sources of Information To help them to identify trends and potentially successful services or potentially weak areas of operation, shipping companies and organisations need to keep up to date with information that relates to shipping. Although some of this might not be direct shipping information, it will be of interest […]