Becker Marine Systems Expanding to Asian Market

Despite the on-going crisis in the shipbuilding industry, Becker Marine Systems is continuing its successful entry into Asian countries such as China, Japan and South Korea. This is the reason why the Hamburg-based company is now opening its own branch office in Kobe, Japan. In addition, a manufacturing partnership for producing container ship rudders has been formed with Murakami Iron Works.

In Asia, Becker Marine Systems has for decades been a highly regarded and dependable partner in the maritime industry. The company’s innovative competency was yet again put to the test by delivering the largest flap rudder in the world. The order from Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in South Korea for delivery of the rudders and energy-saving solutions for two 19,200 TEU container ships belonging to Mediterranean Shipping Company involved the challenge of combining excellent manoeuvrability with the best-possible performance.

In order to meet these high standards, a hydrodynamically optimised solution was developed, a Becker Performance Package comprising a Becker Flap Rudder Twisted and an energy-saving Becker Mewis Duct® Twisted. At a height of over ten meters and a weight of approximately 300 tons, the 78.5 m2, high-performance rudder was a particularly challenging task for both design and production.

Furthermore, with ships of this magnitude, manoeuvrability while navigating slowly through the Suez Canal or on the River Elbe, for example, is also a continuing challenge to the ship‘s crew. However, with the new high-performance rudder, the 400-meter long ship is able to undertake the most difficult manoeuvres, no matter whether moving slowly or quickly. Special forged steels with high yield strength are used in components under heavy load such as the trunk and shaft.

Thanks to the use of special coatings and low-wear bearing materials, the rudder also meets the latest environmental standards as well as the requirements of the US Coast Guard. The Becker Performance Package not only improves safety, it also reduces fuel consumption. Becker Marine Systems is thus making a significant contribution towards fulfilling the complex technical requirements of a modern 19,200 TEU container ship.

New branch office in Kobe

The Hamburg-based company has also been receiving increasing number of orders from Japan in the past few years. In an interview, Managing Director Henning Kuhlmann, who himself worked in Asia for seven years, spoke about the branch office:

Why did Becker Marine Systems decide to open an office in Kobe?

From a partnership alliance with propane producer Nakashima we have already been represented on the Japanese market for approximately 30 years. Since we have recently been receiving significantly more orders from this region, we would like to continue to expand our knowledge of the market and our presence on the ground in Japan.

What characterises Japanese shipbuilding?

Japan is seen as a demanding, yet stable market. The main thing that makes it different from the rest of the world is that it concentrates to a great degree on its own country and its own shipping companies. This uniformity in terms of "going local" was another inducement for us to open our own branch office in the region.

How will it be organised?

Initially, two employees will be working at the new office in Kobe. They will be primarily acting as a technical support team, but will also be doing commercial tasks.

Are there any additional plans?

Yes, Becker Marine Systems is starting a production partnership alliance with rudder maker Murakami Iron Works. The first orders have already been placed for 2,800 TEU container ships being built in Japan. Our job will be to adapt our rudders, in proven Becker quality and well-known design, to the Japanese market and it's local manufacturing processes.