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?

About Author

Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.

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