Past, Present and Future

Generalised Systems
 Marine propulsion is the mechanism or system
used to generate thrust to move a
ship or boat across water.
While paddles and sails are still used on some
smaller boats, most modern ships are propelled
by mechanical systems consisting a motor or
engine turning a propeller, or less frequently, in
jet drives, an impeller.
Steam turbine propulsion involves the usage of
coal or other steam-generating fuels to propel
the vessel. Steam turbine maritime propulsion
system was highly utilised between the late 19th
and the early 20th century.
 Until the application of the steam engine to ships
in the early 19th century, oars propelled galleys,
or the wind were used to
assist watercraft propulsion. Before
mechanisation, merchant ships always used sail,
but as long as naval warfare depended on ships
closing to ram or to fight hand-to-hand, galleys
dominated in marine conflicts because of their
manoeuvrability and speed.
 The paddle wheel is a large wheel, generally built of
a steel framework, upon the outer edge of which are
fitted numerous paddle blades
(called floats or buckets). The bottom quarter or so of
the wheel travels underwater. Rotation of the paddle
wheel produces thrust, forward or backward as
required. More advanced paddle wheel designs have
featured feathering methods that keep each paddle
blade oriented closer to vertical while it is in the water;
this increases efficiency. The upper part of a paddle
wheel is normally enclosed in a paddlebox to
minimise splashing.
 In simple terms, diesel-electric ship propulsion
systems use a combination of a generator
operated by electricity attached to a diesel
motor. The technology has been in use since the
early 1900s. In today’s times, submarines and
merchant ships incorporate the diesel-electric
propulsion system to propel themselves.
 Geared drive propulsion system is extensively used
nowadays. The system can be associated with almost
all kinds of prime movers. Gearing has more than one
function; it reduces the number of revolutions from the
engine output in such a way that the system can derive
maximum propeller efficiency.
 Electrical propulsion was used extensively
during the days of Second World War, when the
ships had steam turbines as their prime movers,
along with electrical drives and large
gearboxes. However, nowadays most electrical
drives have medium or high speed diesel
engines as their prime movers.
 Direct propulsion system is the most commonly
used system on ships. Direct propulsion system
is an invariable choice for low speed diesel
engines and has a very basic arrangement. It
consists of a propeller, which is connected to the
main engine with the help of the shaft.
Maneuvering of the ship is done by controlling
the speed of the main engine and by changing
the direction of rotation of the propeller.
 Diesel propulsion system is the most commonly
used marine propulsion system converting
mechanical energy from thermal forces. Diesel
propulsion systems are mainly used in almost all
types of vessels along with small boats and
recreational vessels.
 Wind propulsion emerged as an alternative to those
systems which emit huge quantities of CO2 gases in
the marine atmosphere. However, the usage of wind
turbine marine propulsion has not started extensively
in large commercial ships because of a requirement of
constant windiness. Two wind propulsion systems for
ships that have become lately are- kite propulsion and
sail propulsion for merchant ships.
 Biodiesel propulsion has been deemed as a
potential marine propulsion system for the
future. Currently tests are being carried out to
find out about the viability of this propulsion
system which is expected to be in full operation
by the year 2017.
 Solar propulsion for ships was utilised for the
first time in the year 2008. Solar propulsion
benefits include a high reduction in the
poisonous carbon dioxide emissions. Solar
propulsions are capable of generating a
capacitance as high as 40 kilowatts (kW).
 Nuclear marine propulsion refers to use of
nuclear energy for purpose of propulsion of
ships. It makes use of a nuclear reactor where a
nuclear reaction can be carried out under
controlled conditions. Such reaction produces
immense energy which can be tapped and used
to power anything from small vessels to a cruise
ship.