Damen supplies rudder and steering gear for research vessel

Damen Marine Components (DMC) has supplied a high-lift Barke® flap rudder and piston-type steering gear for a research ship, the Prinsesse Ingrid Alexandra. The 35m-long vessel has been built by Holland Shipyards Group in Hardinxveld-Giessendam for the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR).

The research vessel will be deployed on exercises including data collection, fish stock sampling, and deployment and retrieval of remotely operated vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, buoys, and ocean landers.

DMC’s Barke flap rudders are designed for vessels that depend on tight manoeuvring, low noise and vibration, and good fuel economy. Their progressively rotating flaps generate high lift forces at large rudder angles but cause low drag at small angles, Damen said. An enclosed linkage system provides overload protection and stops waterborne materials from entering the rudder assembly.

Wim Knoester, DMC Sales and Marketing director, said: "We are confident that the combination of our Barke flap rudder and piston-type steering system will serve the IMR’s latest research vessel well for many years into the future. It has been, as always, a pleasure to be continuing our cooperation with Holland Shipyards Group that dates back to its formation over 40 years ago."The two companies are also cooperating on another project to supply five Optima nozzles for two 3,600dwt inland waterway cargo ships and three 3,800dwt multipurpose coasters.