For over 20 years, it has been the SMM’s emblem: the propeller. Every two years, it is prominently displayed in front of the main entrance to the Hamburg Messe, setting the scene for the world’s largest shipbuilding trade fair.
Once again this year, the SMM’s landmark attraction is a must-see. This time, it is a 35.5-tonne propeller with a diameter of 7.8 metres. It was manufactured by MMG – Mecklenburger Metallguss – based in Waren an der Müritz. In a complex heavy-lift operation, the SMM landmark was transported from Mecklenburg to Hamburg and erected today in front of the exhibition grounds using a heavy-duty crane.
Propeller in transit
Hamburg is merely a stopover for the propeller. It is not, in fact, an exhibition exhibit, but an order from South Korea. As MMG’s managing director, Lars Greitsch, reveals, the propeller is intended for the 4,300 TEU container ship “KMTC Nhava Sheva” owned by the Korean shipping company Korea Marine Transport.
The vessel was built in 2008 at the Samsung shipyard in South Korea. The propeller was designed as a re-engineered propeller at MMG in Waren (Müritz) and manufactured there as well. Following delivery to the customer, it will replace the vessel’s original propeller to improve its efficiency for its current operational profile. According to Greitsch, it is expected to propel the vessel 5 to 7 per cent more efficiently than the original propeller, depending on the vessel’s speed. The MMG ESCAP propeller cap supplied with the propeller also saves a further 2 per cent or so in fuel consumption. The docking required for the propeller replacement will take place at a Chinese repair shipyard.
From Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to the world
Although MMG is based in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the company’s propellers power ships all over the world. Asia, which leads the way in global shipbuilding, is an important sales market for MMG. The Chinese newbuild market is currently developing in a particularly dynamic and interesting way, reports Lars Greitsch. The focus here is primarily on container ships. However, other types of vessel, such as LNG carriers, also remain in high demand.
In addition, according to the MMG chief, Korean shipyards are becoming significantly more active again: “We are also seeing a very strong intake of orders here.” Furthermore, cruise ship construction has recovered very well, meaning that the market is also very active in this sector.
When asked about current market trends, Lars Greitsch reports that, following the high level of activity in the sector of very large container ships with capacities of 20,000 to 24,000 TEU, smaller and medium-sized container ships are currently performing particularly well: “This can be seen at all Chinese shipyards and, increasingly, at Korean shipyards too.”
From a technical perspective, efficiency remains the most important issue in all these projects. Another relevant trend is underwater noise. This aspect remains a topical issue, albeit to a somewhat lesser extent, as the impact on energy efficiency must be taken into account, according to Greitsch. However, the topic continues to be discussed and will regain importance in the future.
Furthermore, there is a trend towards using on-board wave energy converters instead of auxiliary diesel engines. This influences both the propeller design and the torsional vibration behaviour of the propulsion systems.
Given the diverse market trends, it remains exciting to see which propeller will be on display outside the exhibition centre at SMM 2028.
SMM is in the starting blocks
SMM, which takes place every two years, kicks off next week. From 1 to 4 September, the maritime industry will gather in Hamburg. Around 2,300 exhibitors from 70 countries will be presenting technologies and solutions for the future of the maritime industry at the world’s leading trade fair.
The link between MMG and SMM is a long-standing tradition: the company has been bringing large propellers to SMM in Hamburg since at least 2004. Its installation on the exhibition grounds has thus been one of the visible hallmarks of the SMM for more than two decades – and in 2026 it will once again signify that Hamburg is set to become the meeting place for the maritime world.
“When the propeller is on display at the exhibition grounds, we know: it’s time to get started. For us, its installation is always the visible starting signal for SMM. The propeller has long since become a landmark of our trade fair and, like almost no other symbol, represents the maritime industry and its innovative strength. What’s particularly nice is that it’s not merely a backdrop: after the SMM, it will actually be deployed on a container ship, where it will help to improve efficiency,” says Claus Ulrich Selbach, Vice President of Exhibitions Maritime & Technology at Hamburg Messe und Congress.
