Kawasaki Releases Unified-Edition Steering Gear with a Control Box, Realizing Steering Equipment Optimization and Labor Savings
Apr. 09, 2024
Tokyo, April 9, 2024 — Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced today its release in 2024 of the “Unified-Edition” E-series steering gear*1, which realizes improvements via steering equipment optimization and labor savings.
The Unified-Edition is a package-type product combining steering gear, a control box and other components that used to be installed separately onboard. Vessel maneuvering machinery, which controls the rudder and thus the course of the marine vessel, comprises various components including steering gear, control boxes, a rudder angle indicator*2 and more. These components are normally made by different manufacturers and then integrated into a single system, which means shipbuilders and shipowners must coordinate with multiple manufacturers in regard to specifications, maintenance operations and the like each time the need arises. Kawasaki’s system, in contrast, has been optimized based on the company’s experience and knowledge in the field, which reduces the burden on shipbuilders and shipowners.
Features and Benefits
- Reduced labor demand on shipbuilders:
Combining product components into a single package reduces labor demand for design operations and coordination with component manufacturers by shipbuilders. - Reduced maintenance workloads:
Reduces the burden normally incurred by maintenance, inspection and troubleshooting operations with multiple manufacturers. Kawasaki delivers all steering gear equipment together as a single package and handles maintenance and inspections. - Space savings:
Integration of the control box, feedback unit and similar components within the steering gear unit reduces wiring work and footprint. - Reduced crew workloads:
Concentrating crew-operated equipment in one location contributes to improved ease of operations and ship maneuvering performance. Additionally, it is possible to install rudder control equipment warning displays and starter on/off switches on a main control panel. - Simplified status checks (monitoring features):
Adding monitoring features facilitates easier analysis of steering gear equipment status and troubleshooting. Moreover, adding sensors enables acquisition of data on pressures, electric power usage and so on.
Scope of Application
- E-series steering gear: FE type 90–1150 tm, RE type 51–175 tm
Kawasaki has been manufacturing steering gear since 1916 and accumulated a wide range of knowledge over the years. By making use of this know-how, the company will continue to propose new types of optimized steering equipment while also pursuing future advances in preventive maintenance, as well as Internet of Things (IoT) services connecting sea and land operations, to facilitate safer, more reliable marine mobility.
| *1 | E-series steering gear: electrical pump control steering gear |
| *2 | Rudder angle display device: equipment comprising sensors and measuring instruments used to display rudder angle information |
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