Jakethesnake86 wrote:I’ve driven a boat right next to those container ships. It’s hard to describe just how big they are. I never would have thought they’d be single screw though. That seems insane to me considering they ride around during hurricanes and such crossing oceans..
Seems like it depends. See below from the Internet.
Cargo vessels can be fitted with one, two, or rarely three propellers, depending on their speed and maneuvering requirements. These propellers play a crucial role in moving these massive ships through the water, and their design and size are carefully considered to ensure efficient propulsion. Let’s explore some notable examples of ship propellers:
Emma Maersk: This colossal container ship boasts the largest marine propeller ever built, weighing a whopping 131 tons. It enables the Emma Maersk to achieve a maximum speed of 27 knots3.
Hapag Lloyd Container Vessel: Equipped with a six-bladed propeller, this vessel’s propeller has a diameter of approximately 9.1 meters and weighs 101.5 tons—comparable to the height of a three-story building3.
Oasis of the Seas: As one of the largest passenger ships, the Oasis of the Seas features six-meter rotatable propellers that enhance maneuverability3.
Titanic: The iconic Titanic had three massive bronze propellers, each measuring 23 feet and 6 inches and weighing 38 tons. These propellers were powered by separate engines, generating a total power of 30,000 hp3.
Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2): This grand ship carries a pair of 22-foot diameter propellers, weighing about 43 tons each. The
specialized blades contribute to their longevity, and spare blades are kept on board at all times3.
Palmer (Antarctic Icebreaker): Palmer’s two four-meter-long propellers with four blades are made from a sturdy alloy, allowing the ship to achieve speeds even in thick ice cover3.
Elation (Carnival Cruise): Elation features an efficient Azipod propulsion system with a substantial propeller3.
Bismark (German Battleship): Launched in 1939, the Bismark had a propulsion system comprising three 4.7-meter propellers3.
The MV Dali, a Singapore-registered container ship, is propelled by a single low-speed two-stroke crosshead diesel engine coupled to a fixed-pitch propeller. This massive vessel, with an overall length of 299.92 meters (984 feet), has a beam of 48.2 meters (158 feet 2 inches) and a molded depth of 24.8 meters (81 feet 4 inches). Its summer draught is 15.03 meters (49 feet 4 inches), and it boasts a container capacity of 9,971 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU)1.
The main engine, a license-manufactured 9-cylinder MAN-B&W 9S90ME-C9.2 unit produced by Hyundai Heavy Industries, generates an impressive 41,480 kW (55,630 hp) at 82.5 rpm. With a service speed of 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph), the MV Dali has traveled the world, carrying goods from port to port.
