Voith Schneider Propellers mounted on a ship's hull.

Voith Turbo will be supplying its Schneider propellers for two jack up vessels to be launched in Dubai in 2012. The two vessels will be specialized to offer support services for the offshore wind energy industry. They will also be the first of their kind to have Voith Schneider Propellers (VSP) installed.

The vessels are being built at the Dubai shipyard by Lamprell Energy. The owner of the vessels is Fred Olsen Windcarrier AS, from Norway. Fred Olsen placed an order for the vessels earlier this year, as we covered here. Each vessel will have three VSPs installed, ensuring high maneuverability of the ships, and a sailing speed of 12 knots during crossings. VSPs will allow easier lifting of the vessel from the water during wind turbine installation, and a simpler hull shape allowing the ships to have a more hydrodymanic hull design, reducing drag and increasing speed.

More info on the Schneider propeller concept can be seen here.

[source: Voith Turbo]