Our manoeuvring systems for your fleet

Our innovative and versatile rudder solutions not only offer exceptional propulsion efficiency but also ensure optimal course stability for every ship size and type, even under the most challenging conditions. Our products are aimed at maximising the manoeuvrability of your ship while enhancing its performance and efficiency in an eco-friendly way. Thanks to our advanced technology, our rudders are characterised by exceptionally quick rudder response times, enabling precise and efficient manoeuvres. 

This is crucial for navigating in tight harbour areas and challenging weather conditions. We place great emphasis on the ease of maintenance and longevity of our products. Therefore, our range includes not only robust and reliable rudder solutions but also comprehensive customer service. From individual technical support to fast spare parts service – our commitment to your satisfaction and safety is paramount.

Customised rudder technology: From NACA standard to individual high-performance rudder

Ship designers face the challenge of finding a compromise between manoeuvrability and propulsion efficiency, as no rudder profile is optimal in both areas simultaneously. 

The choice of the right profile depends on the specific needs of the customer. In this context, Becker Marine Systems offers tailored solutions.

While some rudders are based directly on a specific NACA profile, others are derived from these profiles. For example, the three main rudder categories from Becker:  

Becker Flap Rudder

Becker Twist Rudder

Becker Schilling Rudder®

From these three types of rudders, various other rudder variations can be derived according to requirements. 

Becker also develops mixed profiles, which represent their own combination of different elements and are also designed in close coordination with ship designers.

Efficient systems for demanding manoeuvring requirements

The full spade rudders from Becker Marine Systems are established worldwide. Our competence in developing rudders that are not only efficient but also meet the highest manoeuvring requirements makes us a valuable partner in the maritime industry.

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Becker Flap Rudder
Becker Twist Rudder
Becker Schilling Rudder
Becker Nozzle
Becker Steering Gear
Becker Daggerboard
Becker Flap Rudder

Becker Flap Rudder

Steering the future of maritime navigation

The Becker Flap Rudder, derived from the innovations of company founder Willi Becker, stands as the most advanced and popular rudder type globally for ship manoeuvrability. It represents the culmination of extensive research and development, making it the most mature flap rudder design in the shipbuilding industry. 

Known for its exceptional balance between manoeuvrability and efficiency, this rudder type is especially effective in crabbing operations, particularly in small ports and river settings. The Becker Flap Rudder design offers options like a twisted profile to minimise cavitation damage and a closed linkage system for enhanced safety.

Animation

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Becker flap rudder
Line drawing of the popular becker flap rudder
Becker Twist Rudder

Becker Twist Rudder

Maximise your vessel's efficiency 

Conventional rudders, symmetrically aligned behind the propeller, fail to take the propeller's rotational flow into account, leading to cavitation and erosion on the rudder blade. Addressing this issue, Becker developed the Becker Twist Rudder, which minimises cavitation risks, reduces drag and enhances propulsion efficiency. Its twisted profile allows for higher cavitation-free rudder angles at increased speeds, and the full spade rudder designs prevent both vortex and gap cavitation. 

This not only lowers service and maintenance costs but also reduces noise caused by cavitation, making the Becker Twist Rudder a significant advancement in rudder technology and efficiency for maritime vessels.

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Line drawing of becker twist rudder
Becker Schilling Rudder

Becker Schilling Rudder

Safety and performance combined

The Becker Schilling® Rudder is a high-lift, fishtail profile rudder designed for enhanced manoeuvrability across all vessel sizes and types. It combines high lateral forces with superior course stability, ensuring safety and efficiency. This full spade rudder allows rudder angles up to 70°, ideal for crabbing manoeuvres and dynamic positioning. 

Its wear-free design significantly reduces maintenance costs. Key operational features include minimal rudder hunting for course keeping, excellent astern manoeuvring, and improved turning capabilities at various speeds.

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Illustration of Becker Schilling Rudder
Illustration of the becker schilling rudder that combines safety and performance
Becker Nozzle

Becker Nozzle

A Becker Nozzle is an advanced nozzle solution that enhances the performance and efficiency of ships. Based on the invention of the Kort nozzle, this technology offers two main variants: the Becker Fixed Nozzle and the Becker Steerable Nozzle.

The Becker Fixed Nozzle significantly improves the ship's bollard pull performance. The Becker Steerable Nozzle, on the other hand, enables a significantly improved manoeuvring performance by generating stronger lateral forces. These nozzles are ideally suited as part of Dynamic Positioning systems, especially due to their outstanding rudder forces at low speeds.

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Illustration of a becker nozzle enhancing the performance and efficiency of ships
Becker Steering Gear

Becker Steering Gear

Mastering the seas with ease

Equipped with a low-pressure hydraulic system, the Becker Steering Gear is efficient, space-saving in design, and thus suitable for small steering gear compartments. The integrated bearings and rudder carrier made of durable synthetic materials ensure long-lasting performance with minimal maintenance. The Becker Steering Gear comprises eight types with torques from 160KNm- 500KNm and is designed for smaller vessels, such as supply vessels, fishing boats, anchor handling tug supply vessels and yachts.

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Ship in rough seas with high waves
Becker Daggerboard

Becker Daggerboard

Optimised ship handling with the innovative Daggerboard

Integrating a Becker daggerboard, an anti-leeway fin for ships equipped with modern Wind Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS), offers significant advantages for drift reduction. By reducing leeway, power can be saved, and navigation can be made more efficient. The Daggerboard from Becker Marine Systems features an effective and slim design that can be integrated into various types of ships. There are two available models: 

  • A vertically retractable Daggerboard with an adjustable fin angle.
  • A Daggerboard with a fixed fin that can be folded out from the hull.
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Ferry with rotor sail and becker daggerboard in harbor entrance

Full spade rudders: Becker's path to maritime excellence

As an expert in the field of hydrodynamic and structural engineering, Becker Marine Systems has always specialised in full spade rudders. Compared to conventional semi-spade rudders, full spade rudders offer ships of any kind and size a more sophisticated and technically advanced solution. The possibility of full movement of the rudder blade without fixed, integrated parts such as the rudder horn leads to better manoeuvrability and more efficient steering of the ship. The design and construction of full spade rudders require specialised knowledge and experience – a competence that engineers at Becker Marine Systems have been distinguished by for decades.

Side view of a conventional semi-balanced rudder with a shipyard in the background
Conventional Semi-Spade Rudder

In a typical semi-spade rudder, the so-called rudder horn is firmly integrated into the ship's hull. It is immovable and acts almost like a fixed keel. The semi-spade rudder blade is attached to the rudder horn with certain bearings.t.

Side view of a full-spade rudder with a shipyard in the background
Becker Full Spade Rudder

In contrast, the full spade rudder consists of a large rudder blade. The entire rudder blade can be moved. The transition between the rudder and hull is formed by the rudder headbox, which is firmly connected to the hull and thus a part of it.

Advantages of full spade rudders: Manoeuvrability, efficiency, and cavitation

Manoeuvrability
Cavitation
Efficiency
Manoeuvrability

Improved manoeuvrability with smaller rudder area

Compared to the semi-spade rudder, where the heavy rudder horn is integrated into the ship's hull, the full spade rudder utilises the entire rudder area more effectively, as it has no fixed parts like the rudder horn. 

This not only results in higher manoeuvrability through a larger effective rudder area in the propeller jet but also allows for material savings and thus cost reduction due to the smaller size of the rudder. 

Furthermore, the full spade rudder provides better propeller coverage, which is particularly advantageous during manoeuvres such as sideways docking in the port, by more effectively converting the propeller's forward thrust into lateral forces.

Illustration of a conventional semi-spade rudder
Conventional Semi-Spade Rudder: Rudder Area of a Semi-Spade Rudder (green)
Illustration of a becker full-spade rudder
Becker Full-Spade Rudder: Rudder Area of a Full-Spade Rudder (yellow). Despite an overall smaller movable rudder area, the effective rudder area of a full spade rudder is larger, enabling better manoeuvrability.
Cavitation

Minimisation of Cavitation

Cavitation, a phenomenon where imploding air bubbles can cause material damage, frequently occurs with semi-spade rudders, especially in the gaps between the fixed rudder horn and the movable rudder blade. 

Full spade rudders from Becker Marine Systems are designed to significantly reduce the risk of cavitation. This is achieved by efficiently utilising the entire rudder area and avoiding the convergence of movable and fixed parts. 

This design optimisation ensures smoother operation and minimises the risk of cavitation, especially at high speeds and in demanding manoeuvring conditions, such as those encountered by fast ships like container ships. Thus, full spade rudders offer a more efficient and safer solution for modern shipping.

Coloured illustration of conventional semi-spade rudder showing cavitation between fixed rudder horn and rudder blade
Conventional Semi-Spade Rudder: Cavitation is particularly prevalent in the small gaps between the fixed rudder horn and the movable rudder blade.
Coloured illustration of conventional full-spade rudder showing reduced cavitation
Becker Full-Spade Rudder: With the full-spade rudder, cavitation is noticeably reduced, leading to less damage to the rudder blade.
Efficiency

Fuel savings thanks to optimised propulsion efficiency

In terms of propulsion efficiency, the full spade rudder surpasses the semi-spade rudder. It can significantly reduce the power consumption of the ship, as demonstrated by comparative or model tests. The full-spade rudder from Becker not only outperforms semi-spade rudders but also stands out against other full-spade rudder manufacturers thanks to our comprehensive expertise in rudder design. We achieve a significant advantage in propulsion efficiency, compared both to semi-spade and other full-spade rudders.

Our approach to continuously invest in the improvement and innovation of our rudder solutions pays off and represents a crucial component in the pursuit of sustainable and cost-efficient shipping. The proven propulsion efficiency of our full spade rudders underscores our commitment to high-quality, efficient, and future-proof maritime solutions at Becker Marine Systems.

Comparative tests of several ship types at different ship model basins in Europe and Asia
See illustrations.

Graphic showing comparison of rudder efficiency with Becker full-spade rudder with twist and bulb outperforming shipyard semi- and full-spade rudder
Comparison of rudder efficiency on 50 K dwt MR Tanker
Comparison test at KRISO, Korea

- Blue line: Shipyard semi-spade rudder
- Red line: Shipyard full-spade rudder with bulb
- Green line: Becker full-spade rudder with twist and bulb

Full-spade rudders are on average 1 - 2% more efficient regardless of the specific design. The use of the Becker full-spade rudder even leads to energy savings of up to 3%. With an assumed daily power consumption of 20 tons, this is a considerable saving.
Graphic showing comparison of rudder efficiency with becker full-spade rudder with twisted leading edge and bulb outperforming shipyard full-spade rudder with bulb
Comparison of rudder efficiency on 174K LNG Carrier (Twin Skeg Design)
Comparison test at HMRI, Korea

- Blue line: Shipyard full-spade rudder with bulb
- Red line: Becker full-spade rudder with twisted leading edge and bulb
Graphic showing comparison of rudder efficiency with becker rudder outperforming the competition, even compared with shipyard-owned full spade rudders
Comparison of rudder efficiency on 14K Container Vessel
Comparison test at HSVA, Germany

Blue line: Shipyard full-spade rudder with twist
Red line: Shipyard full-spade rudder with twist and bulb
Green line: Becker Full-spade rudder with twist and bulb

Here, only full spade rudders were compared. The Becker rudder surpasses the competition, even compared with shipyard-owned full spade rudders.
Becker icon for saving energy

Becker rudders: Rapid amortisation through energy savings

Even with energy savings of just 1%, our rudders amortise in less than a year. Our rudders not only offer immediate cost savings through reduced power consumption but also represent a long-term economical solution. Invest in a Becker rudder and benefit from rapid amortisation as well as lasting savings in ship operation.

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