Schottel’s transverse thrusters picked for Polish Miecznik multi-role frigates

January 14, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

German equipment provider Schottel has been contracted to supply its transverse thrusters for the Polish Miecznik-class multi-role frigates.

Each of the Miecznik-class multi-role frigates being built by PGZ Stocznia Wojenna, Poland, will be fitted with a shock-enhanced STT 4 with an input power of 925 kW and a propeller diameter of 2.0 meters.

The entire scope of supply of the STTs comprises a combined system with a motor and frequency-driven soft starter, which represents a complete functional unit from a single source.

Furthermore, each STT will be equipped with Schottel’s LeaCon, a seal monitoring system certified by a classification society. According to the company, the system offers “safe and reliable protection” against seawater contamination caused by operating materials.

Separate seals to the seawater and to the gearbox side are expected to ensure that both seawater coming into the system and gear oil going out of the system are collected in an intermediate chamber.

Schottel noted that LeaCon is also used to monitor the condition of the seals, so operational wear can be detected at an early stage and unscheduled maintenance avoided.

Three modern Miecznik frigates for the Polish Navy will be built at PGZ in cooperation with defence companies Babcock, MBDA, Thales, Remontowa Shipbuilding, as part of the largest contract ever awarded to the Polish shipbuilding industry.

The vessels are 138 meters long, with a width of 20 meters. Maximum displacement is 7,000 tons, while the maximum speed is 28 knots.

The first frigate will be launched by 2026, and the navy expects that the ship will enter service 2029. Multi-purpose units of this class are expected to increase the capabilities of the Polish Navy and will allow for the implementation of a wide range of tasks at sea, including in the field of securing shipping routes and critical infrastructure.

The keel for the first vessel in this class was laid in January last year.