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Becker Marine Systems GmbH
Company typeGmbH
IndustryMarine technology
Founded1946
Headquarters,
Key people
Henning Kuhlmann
Revenue€168.6 million (2023)[1][2]
Number of employees
114 (2023)[2]
Websitebecker-marine-systems.com

Becker Marine Systems is a German manufacturer of ship and marine technology based in Hamburg. The company develops and produces manoeuvring and monitoring systems.

According to German economist and professor Christoph Müller, Becker Marine Systems is considered a Hidden Champion.[3]

History

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The company was founded in 1946 by Willi Becker in Hamburg. In its first years, Becker Marine Systems was active in developing rudders. The Becker Rudder was introduced in the 1950s and improved ship manoeuvrability.[4] With the following Becker Flap Rudder, the company expanded its services to larger vessels by adapting the rudder design to meet the requirements of bigger ships.[5][6] With the 1972 acquisition of Kort Engineering, Becker entered the market for specialised nozzles and rudders.[6]

In the following years, Becker opened its own offices in China, South Korea, and Singapore.[7] This expansion led to major contracts, such as the production of rudders for six large container ships from STX in 2009.[8] During this period, the company's management underwent changes which resulted in an increased revenue from around €25 million in 2006 to approximately €100 million in 2009.[6][9]

Also in 2009, Becker launched the Becker Mewis Duct, a device that improves the inflow to propellers.[10] The engineers of the device, Mewis and Lehmann, were later awarded the German Environmental Prize for their invention.[11][12]

In 2015, Becker began operations in the United States, followed by a contract from the United States Navy to equip 17 new tankers with rudders in 2017.[13] The same year, Becker began a collaboration in Japan with local companies for the construction of rudders for container ships.[14][15]

Takeover by Nakashima Propeller

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In April 2021, the Japanese company Nakashima Propeller Co. Ltd. acquired a majority stake in Becker Marine Systems.[16] Nakashima had previously been a partner of Becker Marine Systems since 1978.[10] Becker Marine Systems remained unchanged in its structure, including its management.[10][14][17]

Corporate Structure

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Becker Marine Systems GmbH is headquartered in Hamburg and is part of Nakashima Europe (Germany) GmbH. The ultimate parent company is Nakashima Propeller Co. Ltd., based in Okayama, Japan. In the 2023 financial year, the company generated sales of €168.6 million and employed an average of 114 employees in Germany.[1][2] Globally, Becker employs over 200 people.[18] Its key markets are Asia, Europe, and North America, with the majority of its 2023 revenue generated in Asia.[1]

In addition to its headquarters in Hamburg, Becker Marine Systems operates several subsidiaries in China (Zhenjiang, Nanjing, and Shanghai), Singapore, South Korea (Busan), Norway (Oslo), and the United States (Texas).[1][19]

Products

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Becker Marine Systems is active in the development, manufacturing, and sale of maritime technology systems.[2] The company is described as a market leader in the development and production of ship rudders and propulsion efficiency systems in newspapers and magazines such as Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and The Maritime Executive.[14][20]

Becker offers manoeuvring systems including various rudders such as the Becker Flap Rudder, a fin-type rudder with a sealed, lubricated linkage that protects it from impacts with ice floes. The rudder fin can deflect up to 100 degrees, making it effective for slow-speed operation.[21]

Additionally, the company makes propeller, rudder, and ship control mechanisms, such as the Becker Nozzle, the Steering Gear System, and the Becker Daggerboard electrohydraulic mechanism.[22][23][24] The Daggerboard is a device designed to reduce a ship's drifting.[22][25] The Becker Mewis Duct[12] and the Becker Twisted Fin are devices that improve the inflow to propellers and thereby increase their efficiency,[26] resulting in lower energy consumption.[27][28][29]

Becker also offers two monitoring systems: the Becker Intelligent Monitoring System (BIMS) and the Becker Bearing Monitoring System (BBMS). BIMS enables energy-efficient autopilot operation.[30] The BBMS monitors the wear of the rudder stock bearing.[31]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Becker Marine Systems GmbH, Jahresabschluss zum Geschäftsjahr vom 01.01.2023 zum 31.12.2023". Unternehmensregister. (in German). 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  2. ^ a b c d "Becker Marine Systems GmbH". North Data (in German). Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  3. ^ Rau, Kristin (2018-01-29). "Das sind Deutschlands geheime Weltmarktführer". Wirtschaftswoche (in German). Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  4. ^ "Auf Innovationskurs". Creditreform (in German). 2017-06-02. p. 8.
  5. ^ "Umweltfreundliche Eisbrecher für Hamburgs Hafen". Schiff & Hafen (in German). 2017-02-01.
  6. ^ a b c "History". Becker Marine Systems. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  7. ^ "Becker Marine mit Büro in Singapur". Hamburger Abendblatt (in German). 2007-01-25. p. 27.
  8. ^ "Großauftrag für Ruderbauer Becker Marine aus Asien". Hamburger Abendblatt (in German). 2012-06-29. p. 26.
  9. ^ Nissen, Tanja (2009-12-08). "Das Schiffsruder fest in der Hand". SHZ (in German). Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  10. ^ a b c Kopp, Martin (2021-04-13). "Japaner übernehmen Becker Marine Systems". Hamburger Abendblatt (in German). p. 21.
  11. ^ "Schifffahrt auf Klimakurs: Der Becker Mewis Duct". Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (in German). 2022-10-13. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  12. ^ a b Schesswendter, Raimund (2022-09-05). "Eine Düse aus Hamburg spart 12 Millionen Tonnen CO₂ und gewinnt den Umweltpreis". t3n Magazin (in German). Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  13. ^ "Großauftrag für Hamburger Schiffszulieferer von US Navy". Hamburger Abendblatt (in German). 2017-03-15.
  14. ^ a b c "Schiffbauer blicken nach Ostasien". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). 2021-04-13. p. 19.
  15. ^ "Hamburger Schiffszulieferer expandiert nach Japan". Hamburger Abendblatt (in German). 2017-05-02.
  16. ^ Bartlett, Paul (2021-04-12). "Nakashima Propeller acquires Becker Marine Systems". Seatrade Maritime. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  17. ^ "Nakashima Propeller steigt bei Becker Marine Systems ein". Die Welt (in German). 2021-04-12. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  18. ^ "Becker Delivers Rudder for World's Largest Container Ship". The Maritime Executive. 2014-12-17. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  19. ^ Stahnke, Jochen (2009-09-05). "Erfolg mit Schiffsrudern". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). p. 18.
  20. ^ "Becker Marine Systems Unveil New High Performance Rudders". The Maritime Executive. 2016-09-07. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  21. ^ Bald, Jens (2017-02-01). "Umweltfreundliche Eisbrecher für Hamburgs Hafen". Schiff & Hafen (in German).
  22. ^ a b "Launch of New Oriduct Segments Daggerboard & Steering Gear Announced at SMM". Transportation Monitor Worldwide. 2024-09-09.
  23. ^ "Becker Marine Systems Introduces New Wind-Assist Steering Technology". Marine Link. 2024-09-08. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  24. ^ Behrend, Claudia (2024-09-09). "Becker Marine Systems startet Segmente Daggerboard und Steering Gear". Hansa Online (in German). Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  25. ^ Atack, Patrick Rhys (2024-09-04). "Becker Marine Systems unveils Daggerboard for wind-assisted shipping". Ship Technology. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  26. ^ Wenk, Erik (2024-10-10). "Schiffbauversuchsanstalt Potsdam". Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichten (in German).
  27. ^ Tripmaker, Marco (2013-05-04). "Becker Marine Systems aus Harburg hilft Reedern beim Treibstoffsparen". Harburger Anzeigen und Nachrichten (in German). p. 6.
  28. ^ Lepél, Sabine (2012-09-12). "Diese Düse hilft beim Energiesparen". Harburger Anzeigen & Nachrichten (in German). p. 8.
  29. ^ "Spritspardüsen aus Hamburg weltweit stark gefragt". Hamburger Abendblatt (in German). 2014-09-12.
  30. ^ "Energieeffiziente Lösungen für eine nachhaltige Schifffahrt". Schiff & Hafen (in German). 2018-11-02.
  31. ^ "Raising energy efficiency to stay in the game". Ship & Offshore. 2015-07-30.
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