We’re steering the future towards advanced maritime navigation
The Becker Flap Rudder represents the culmination of decades of research, development, and practical experience, and is recognised as the most mature flap rudder design in the shipbuilding industry. It offers unparalleled manoeuvrability at all speeds while ensuring the best possible efficiency of the vessel. The design, originated by company founder Willi Becker, has become the global standard among ship operators who prioritise manoeuvrability. Particularly effective in smaller ports and river operations, the Becker Flap Rudder allows ship handlers to perform manoeuvres with ease. Its improved linkage and hinge system has been optimised over decades to ensure an unmatchable reliability of the whole rudder system.
The design offers several options, including a twisted profile to decrease cavitation damage risk caused by the propeller slipstream, and a closed linkage system for safer operation in icy or sandy conditions. When combined with Becker’s King Support Rudder (KSR) bearing, the Becker Flap Rudder is the rudder of choice even for the largest vessels. For smaller vessels, such as fishing boats or workboats, the Becker Flap Rudder is supplemented with the Heel Pintle, which guarantees optimum stability and manoeuvrability of the vessel.
Principle and structure of the Becker Flap Rudder
Higher lift due to optimised pressure distribution
The Becker Flap Rudder is based on the articulating flap principle, where the hydrodynamic side force (rudder lift) results from the pressure distribution around the rudder blade.
The flap rudder achieves a significantly higher-pressure distribution on both the suction and pressure sides, leading to greater lift. After the rudder reaches its stall point, only the positive pressure component remains. Even here, the Becker Flap Rudder exhibits a higher-pressure distribution compared to NACA profiles, which makes the flap rudder especially powerful in terms of generated lift and efficiency.
Up to 90 degrees for precise manoeuvring
The Becker Flap Rudder features an additional, moveable flap which amplifies the prescribed rudder angle. A rudder angle of 45 degrees results in a flap angle of 90 degrees.
Thus, it responds to smaller rudder angles with significant lateral forces and is especially suitable for ships that need to operate in narrow or restricted water ways. This rudder is more effective in its response, generating significant manoeuvring advantages at lower rudder angles.
Structure of a Becker Flap Rudder
Options of the Becker Flap Rudder
Advantages of the Becker Flap Rudder
Performance
- Enhanced course stability with smaller turning circles
- Improved performance in severe weather conditions
- Balance adjustment improves propeller disk coverage and minimises rudder torque, and hence steering gear
Manoeuvrability
- Increased lift in all conditions
- Flap angle up to 100°
- Up to 65° rudder angles for effective crabbing manoeuvres
- Superior low-speed manoeuvrability
- Improved dynamic positioning and course-keeping
- Reduced need for tug assistance
Efficiency
- 10-20% increase in manoeuvring forces
- Equivalent lift with a smaller rudder area, optimising the vessel's hydrodynamic performance
- Compatibility with bulb and twisted leading edge technology for power savings
- Best propeller disk coverage, maximizing propulsion efficiency and reducing operational costs.
The Becker Flap Rudder is optimally designed for
- Container vessels
- Tankers
- Ferries & Vehicle Carriers
- Passenger vessels
- Offshore vessels & Workboats
- Fishing vessels
Proven performance for your ship
At Becker Marine Systems we attach great importance to the efficiency and performance of our manoeuvring systems. In a market characterised by strict regulations, our aim is not only to make ships more efficient, but also more sustainable. In order to fulfil these high requirements, we carry out extensive development, testing and measurements of our rudders. CFD simulations and model testing are an integral part of our design process. This allows us to evaluate the performance of our rudder solutions in direct comparison with other manufacturers and ensure that our products meet the highest standards in terms of efficiency and performance.
We are proud that our rudder solutions are regularly selected as the preferred choice for new builds and retrofit projects, underlining our leading position in the field of maritime efficiency technologies.
Contact us
(German office hours)
(Cell phone, 24/7)
