Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract to supply its innovative rim-drive thrusters for a new advanced acoustic research vessel being built for India’s Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL). The vessel, under
Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract to supply its innovative rim-drive thrusters for a new advanced acoustic research vessel being built for India’s Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL). The vessel, under construction at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), will play a critical role in oceanographic and acoustic research for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The Kongsberg Maritime rim-drive thrusters were selected for their ability to meet exceptionally strict underwater radiated noise requirements, a key factor for acoustic research operations. By eliminating the traditional gearbox and using an electric rim-drive motor integrated into the propeller hub, these thrusters deliver ultra-quiet performance, high efficiency, and precise manoeuvrability, ideal for sensitive scientific missions.
The thruster package comprises two RD-AZ2600 azimuth thrusters, two RD-TT1600 tunnel thrusters, and the MCON control system.
This contract marks a key milestone for Kongsberg Maritime: it takes the company past 100 units for rim-drive propulsion systems worldwide, a technology that was first launched commercially ten years ago. Since its introduction, Kongsberg Maritime’s rim-drive solution has become the benchmark for silent, reliable propulsion in research, naval, and specialised commercial vessels.
The azimuth thruster features a six-bladed propeller housed in a nozzle, which improves low-speed thrust and
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