The South Korean company STX Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. and Schottel will be cooperating in the area of large rudder propeller systems for underwater installation, as used on drilling rigs, for example. Within the framework of a corresponding licence agreement, STX will manufacture rudder propellers covering a power range from 2000 to 5800 kW, while Schottel will supply the core components for these systems in the form of the L gearbox. The first STX-Schottel Rudder propellers are due for delivery in the second half of 2010.
Following the decision of the Spay-based propulsion specialist several years ago, for reasons of capacity, to cease production of large propulsion systems for drilling rigs and to concentrate on steerable propulsion systems, particularly for passenger vessels, ferries, tugs and offshore supply vessels, Schottel is now re-entering this arena with a strong partner at its side. STX is responsible for the project management and sales.
The licence agreement signed on 28 January 2009 at the Schottel headquarters in Spay/Rhine by Kang-Sik Rhee, President and CEO of STX Heavy Industries, and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Jensen, CEO of Schottel GmbH, covers South Korea, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and India, as well as all shipyards owned by the STX Group. According to Professor Jensen, an extension of this licence to cover large retractable systems is conceivable.
(www.schottel.de)