Rolls-Royce has received £18m of orders for the supply of azimuth thrusters to power 18 new tugs that are under construction in Chinese shipyards.

The thrusters include an electric motor and a propeller which, as a combined unit, can be rotated horizontally in any direction to manoeuvre the vessel without the need for a rudder.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Go deeper with GlobalData

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The company said that 12 new tugs will be delivered to Qingdao and Yingkou Ports, four of which will be the most powerful under operation in China.

China-based Tangshan and Tangshan Cao Feidian Ports have also placed orders for a total of six tugs.

Ship Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Ship Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Dual winner of the 2025 Ship Technology Excellence Awards , Flyability’s Elios 3 UT drone is redefining ship inspections. See how class-approved LiDAR and UT data, collision-tolerant design and digital twins are replacing scaffolding and rope access with faster, safer remote inspection workflows.

Discover the Impact