Big ships don't stop or reverse the engine out at sea to manuever. It's
not
practical on a diesel or steam ship. Just use the rudder.

Large steam turbine-driven ships have an "astern" turbine just for that
purpose. The regular turbine can't be reversed and it is to costly to
design gearing for it.

Bob Swinney

"Tony" wrote in message
.net...
Usually the engine is directly coupled to the prop. Fixed blade prop. If
you
want to go astern to stop the engine and restart it in reverse. Ship has
to
be at 3 knots or less to accomplish this. I forgot what the lowest
manuevering speed rpm is, sea speed is typically 80 to 90 RPM. Perhaps
this
engine can do 20 rpm dead slow ahead.


--
Tony

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"James B. Millard" wrote in message
newsdP7b.31420$j26.3599@lakeread02...
How do they transfer power to the shaft -- I can't imagine they use a
clutch. Maybe it's direct drive with a variable pitch screw?
Hydraulic?

Brad

--

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Brad Millard On-line ballistics for small arms...
www.eskimo.com/~jbm
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