Science / Medicine : Fins Added to Ships’ Shape

Scientists at Glasgow University believe that flexible mechanical fins that copy the action of the tail of a fast-swimming fish or whale could propel ships with 20% greater efficiency than conventional screw propellers.

Bob McGregor and his team have developed a flexible fin that mechanically simulates the action of the tail of a fish. Such simulation has been made possible by the recent development of reinforced plastics that combine great flexibility and fatigue resistance with high tensile and bonding strength.

Calculations and experiments suggest that they can reach a fin efficiency of about 85%, which would be 20% better than the conventional screw propeller.

McGregor said it should be possible to use fish-tail propulsion to drive ships of any size. It is likely, however, to be more acceptable for ships of 1,000 tons or less, for which conventional screw propeller efficiencies are at their lowest.