Milestone for Asian Maritime Engineering Group as it Turns Out 5,000th Propeller

SOUTH KOREA – Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has achieved a major milestone with the production of the 5,000th propeller at its Ulsan factory. Measuring 10.6 metres in diameter and 77 tonnes in weight, the propeller is scheduled to be installed on a 300,000 DWT VLCC ordered from Athens-based Thenamaris by the end of this month.

HHI says that not only is it the only Korean manufacturer capable of churning out such giant ship propellers, heavier than 40 tonnes, it also has the biggest stake in the global ship propeller trade with a market share of 31% as of 2015.

Since the production of its first propeller in 1985, HHI has achieved other significant production milestones with the 100th propeller in 1987, 1,000th in 1999, and 2,000th in 2005. Since 2000, HHI has been producing 200 plus propellers annually. HHI also won Guinness World Record for the heaviest propeller in 2001 with a 102 tonne propeller, then the heaviest ever made. Speaking on the company’s vision for the future, an official from HHI, said:

“With the goal of developing 25% lighter propellers by 2018, we are currently developing new type of propellers made of composite material. We will continue to make efforts to keep our standing in the global market with tireless technology development and quality improvement.”

Photo: Tithe scale of the propeller can be judged by the tiny figure of the man in the photograph.