10 Biggest Ship Propellers in the World
The world’s biggest propellers drive massive ships and enable maritime trade between global economies. A ship propellor is a rotating fan-like equipment that moves the vessel using power from its main engine.
Here is a list of the biggest ship propellers the marine world has seen.
1. Emma Maersk
The propeller made by the German company Mecklenburger Metallguss GmbH can easily be called the biggest marine propeller. The 5-bladed propeller has a diameter of 10.3 m and weighs a whopping 113 tons.
It was manufactured by Mecklenburger Metallguss GmbH in Waren, Germany and was shipped over the road to Hamburg in February 2014, where it was then temporally stored.
Emma Maersk is one of the largest container ships with a length of 397 m and a beam of 56 m with a cargo capacity of up to 15,000 TEUs. Justifiably so, it is the largest ship propeller ever built, providing the ship a maximum speed of 27 knots.
2. Hamburg Express
HHI manufactured one of the biggest ship propellers in 2001 for the four 7200 TEU containerships being built for Hapag Lloyd, one of them being Hamburg Express.
The propeller weighs 101.5 tons and has a diameter of 9.1 m and 6 blades. Its size can be compared to a three-storey building.
It was being constructed along with the world’s most powerful diesel engine of the time with 93,360 bhp, 2157 tons and 420-ton crankshaft.
3. Oasis of the seas
The biggest passenger ship of its time, Oasis of the Seas boasts one of the largest propellers ever fitted on a vessel. ABB manufactured the propellers with a 6.1 m diameter to run the massive ship.
The cruise ship has three 20,000kw electric azimuth thrusters under the stern which drive the propellers. Since they can rotate, a rudder is not required to steer the vessel. 4-7500 horsepower bow thrusters aid in her manoeuvre.
4. Titanic
The Titanic was one of the biggest ships of its time. Proportionately, its propellers were just as huge, too. This passenger vessel featured 3 propellers.
These propellers measured 23 feet and 6 inches and weighed 38 tons each. Made of solid bronze, each propeller was powered by a separate engine, creating a total power of 30,000 hp. Many say that the Titanic’s propellers were the largest ones ever built.
5. Queen Elizabeth 2
QE 2 is another huge ship that flaunts huge propellers. It holds a pair of propellers, each 22 feet in diameter and weighing about 43 tons.
This makes them one of the largest ship propellers. The blades are specialized to provide the propellers with a longer life.
6. Palmer
This Antarctic icebreaker ship flaunts two massive propellers, each about 4 meters long with four blades. The main engines produce over 12,000 HP with twin 13′ propellers.
They are made from a sturdy alloy to give them extra strength. Norway manufacturers have pulled a feat with these propellers that can provide a speed of three knots in thick ice cover.
7. Elation
This carnival cruise has two fixed-pitch propellers, each having four blades. They have a diameter of 5.6 m and weigh around 14 tons.
8. Bismark
Bismarck was one of the most important German battleships launched in 1939, just before the Second World War broke out. It had three propellers, each 4.7 m in diameter.
These propellers had 3 blades and were made of manganese bronze alloy. They could move at a speed of 270 revolutions per minute and displace a volume of 2.4 cubic meters per revolution.
9. OOCL Hong Kong
It was the biggest container ship ever constructed when she was delivered in 2017. She was also the first to cross the 21,000 TEU capacity.
The lead ship of the G Class, she is massive with a length of 399.8 m and a breadth of 58.8 m. Her summer draft is 16.3 m, including a gross tonnage of 212035.
The vessel has fixed-pitch propellers which help manoeuvre this gigantic ship. It also boasts a MAN Diesel & Turbo G-type 11G95ME-C9 engine, which produces 62,382 kW of power allowing for a top speed of 21 knots and a cruising speed of about 14.6 knots.
10. Norwegian Epic
The cruise ship Norwegian Epic was the third largest in the world when it was launched in 2009. She flaunted the latest technologies and revolutionised onboard entertainment.
She is 329.4 m long and 40.6 m wide with a capacity for 4200 guests. It has 2 electric motors with conventional shafts and 2 Wartsila fixed-pitch propellers of 24 MW each at 135 rpm.
In 2015, the cruise ship was refurbished which included technical improvements like the addition of becker rudders and propeller caps, hull paint and an upgrade of lifeboats and tender boats release mechanisms and air ducts. Thrusters and stabilisers received maintenance while refrigeration systems were also checked.
References darkroastedblend , oasisoftheseas , titanicstation , qe2 , usap , bismarck-class
You might also like to read-
- Propeller, Types of Propellers and Construction of Propellers
- 15 Largest Ships In The World
- Top 10 Biggest Submarines in the World
- What is Transverse Thrust in Ships?
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About Author
Zahra is an SEO-Strategist & a Technical Writer with over 5 years of experience crafting top-tier content for the shipping world. From news, articles, ebooks, blogs and marketing pieces to industry white papers, she has written it all and now brings that experience to her role as Senior Editor. She makes complex maritime stories clear, sharp, and engaging.
Disclaimer :
The information on this website is for general purposes only. While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, we make no warranties of any kind regarding completeness, reliability, or suitability. Any reliance you place on such information is at your own risk. We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from the use of this website.
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nice web site and ofc.very good and interesting article…but with one little error,on Titanic you say it was 3 blade propellers and You put on picture with 4bladed propeller..
Astounding, but I think that Titanic had three propellers, not two,
Cheers!
The Titantic had 3 propellers but the middle one was smaller and 4 blades hence the 2 Giant 3 Bladed Propellers mentioned in the article.
Dear Sir,
Kindly advise me the name of worldwide big size marine Propeller manufacturers
for my academic study.
As the undersigned developed multi-thrusting Propeller System for ships, Air Crafts, Helicopters
and Stream Power Generators.
seeking for Cooperator throu your good end . Tks & All the Best Capt. Jaxon Tseng(Taiwan)
Kamewa in Sweden (currently Rolls-Royce) is the most sophisticated propeller supplier today. Onboard all the major yachts, cruise and naval vessels around the world.
This has been very interesting to read. I google this subject looking for information on a very large propeller I’ve seen in Butte Montana. This is a four blade propeller, It is approximately 34’ ft from tip to tip and all brass, it has serial numbers on it, also has a remanufacture notation on it that was done in Japan in 1942, during ww2. I would love to know the history propeller. Can anybody tell me where I can get help. My email [email protected]
I am in a debate over Titanic’s center propeller. An author that I am acquainted with purports that the propeller was a three bladed as were the other two, although of smaller diameter. I maintain that Titanic went to sea with a four bladed propeller. There are few photos available (that I have found); most are of Olympic. Even the ones from the wreck do not show the center prop.
Very nice study please update then and there
what in the world is going on here