Operational reliability

Our achievements in 2024

• New rim-driven thruster, RDT2100, which is also our largest rim-driven thruster.
• New push-ducted azimuth propulsion thruster AUP105 with three propeller diameters and two bevel gear angles: 90-degree and 8-degree tilted propeller shaft.
• New resiliently well-mounted tunnel thruster FW93 for comfort class noise requirements.

Quality and long-term perspectives

We have designed and manufactured maritime equipment since 1912. Our products are designed with durable and reliable operation as one of the main objectives. With proper use, service and maintenance, our thrusters and propulsion equipment will outlive the vessel’s lifetime. Utilising well-built equipment for the complete lifetime of a vessel will have a lower impact on the environment and the overall operational cost as opposed to a strategy for maintenance by replacement.

Since 1965, we have built and installed around 12 200 high-quality thruster and propulsion systems in some 6 100 vessels of which the vast majority are still in daily operation.

Energy-efficient products and services

We continuously invest considerable time and resources to develop new, more energy-efficient products. This includes novel propeller and thruster solutions, control and monitoring systems, drive systems and autonomous systems. Our R&D departments accumulated 80,000 hours in 2024, and a large proportion of our new-sales revenue is realised through the offering of products and services developed during the last five years. Many thrusters and propulsion systems already in operation have also been upgraded with state-of-the-art technology that has extended the vessels’ lifetime, contributed positively to energy savings and reduced GHG emissions.

All Brunvoll thrusters and propulsion systems are delivered with the Brunvoll control system, BruCon. In-house production of both the thrusters and propulsion systems, along with the control system, has helped us develop robust, smart and energy-efficient ways of operating a vessel with today’s technology.

Part of our business model is the aftermarket, where service and maintenance are offered on-site at yards across the globe. Some travelling is required; however, to reduce the carbon footprint of travel, we rely on digital tools and a global presence through local service stations in strategic areas. Today, we are represented by local service stations in 40 countries, and we have developed a Condition Monitoring System (CMS) enabling remote diagnostics and support. The CMS also allows for further condition-based maintenance instead of the traditional preventive maintenance model. 229 of our units were equipped with CMS at the end of 2024, which is an increase of 24 units from the previous year.

As the decline of the COVID-19 pandemic made travelling easier, we saw a rise in our business and service travel from 2021 to 2024. Service travel has increased because of increased customer demand in this segment. Business travel was artificially low in the pandemic years, but we are continuously working on decreasing our emissions from business travel. Meetings in Microsoft Teams have replaced a lot of travel, but we have on the other hand increased both the number of employees and jobs. These factors also impact our emissions from travel.

Product pollution

Today, most thrusters and propulsion systems from Brunvoll are prepared to operate on Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EALs). Conversion into EAL operation is also available on systems already in service, allowing the vessels to be VGP (Vessel General Permit) compliant without replacing their thrusters and propulsion systems.

Cyber security

Cyber security is one of our top concerns as various products and functions in a vessel are increasingly interconnected. We follow the recommendations from Center of Internet Security (CIS) and National Cyber Security Centre (NSM), and are now certified according to ISO 27001. No cyber security breaches were reported in 2024.