Azimuthing Swing-up Thrusters
This Azimuthing Swing-up Thrusters swings up into a housing in the hull when not in use. It can quickly be swung down about a horizontal axis into the operating position. In operation, it functions as an azimuth thruster and is designed to develop maximum bollard pull in the manoeuvring condition, or to provide positioning power for station keeping. The thruster has the added safety benefit of
functioning as a ‘get you home’ drive. A high thrust is developed in relation to input power, and this thrust can be vectored in any desired direction.
In the stowed position the thruster does not protrude below the vessel’s keel/baseline, an important consideration for shallow
water operations. Additional azimuth thrusters are often located at the lowest possible position in the hull due to space envelope restrictions, especially for equipment mounted at the bow, and thrusters need to be retracted into the hull when not in use.