35-tonne ship propeller marks countdown to SMM 2026 in Hamburg

A 35.5-tonne ship propeller has been installed at the Hamburg exhibition grounds ahead of SMM 2026, marking the return of the international maritime industry event from 1 to 4 September.

Supplied by Mecklenburger Metallguss (MMG), the five-bladed propeller measures 7.8 metres in diameter and is made of propeller bronze. It has been placed in front of the Central Entrance at Hamburg Messe and Congress, where the large-scale component has become a recurring feature of SMM for more than two decades.

“When the propeller is in place on the exhibition grounds, we know: b. For us, its installation is the visible starting signal for SMM every time. The propeller has long since become a landmark of our event and, like few other images, represents the maritime industry and its innovative strength. What makes it particularly special is that it is not merely a showpiece: after SMM, it will actually be installed on a container ship, where it will help improve efficiency,” says Claus Ulrich Selbach, Vice President Exhibitions Maritime & Technology at Hamburg Messe und Congress.

Propeller designed for improved vessel efficiency

The propeller was manufactured by MMG in Waren (Müritz) for the 4,300-TEU container ship KMTC Nhava Sheva, operated by South Korea-based Korea Marine Transport Co. Ltd.

Following SMM 2026, the propeller is scheduled to replace the original propeller installed on the container ship, which was built in 2008.

MMG used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to redesign and optimise the propeller according to the vessel’s current operating and sailing profile. The company expects the redesigned propeller to improve propulsion efficiency by between 5% and 7%, depending on the vessel’s operating speed.

A fin cap fitted to the propeller is expected to generate an additional fuel saving of around 2%, according to MMG.

The component forms part of a series of redesigned propellers developed by MMG for this vessel type.

MMG and SMM propeller tradition

The propeller will be transported to Hamburg using heavy-load equipment and positioned on a special tilting device. A loader crane will be used to fit the fin cap before the propeller is raised into its display position.

“The installation of the propeller in front of the Hamburg exhibition halls for SMM is a very special moment for us every time – but also a logistical challenge. We are delighted to once again make a highly visible statement for the maritime industry in Hamburg in 2026. For us, it is also a clear symbol of the capabilities of German shipbuilding and, in particular, the maritime supply industry,” says Dr Lars Greitsch, CEO of Mecklenburger Metallguss (MMG).

MMG has displayed large ship propellers at SMM since at least 2004. The practice has continued as part of the event’s preparations, with the displayed propellers subsequently being used for commercial vessels.

SMM 2026 to feature 2,300 exhibitors

SMM 2026 will take place in Hamburg from 1 to 4 September 2026. Around 2,300 exhibitors from 70 countries are expected to present technologies and solutions for the maritime industry.

The event will cover areas including shipbuilding, propulsion technology, energy efficiency, maritime equipment, digitalisation and other technologies aimed at improving vessel performance.