In contrast to what seems to have been economic gloom spread across much of the world’s media, 2008 has been a highly successful year, for Ocean Yacht Systems which has resulted in a massive 67% growth in OYS’s Thruster division. Significantly, the majority of the orders have been for OYS Swing Retractable Thrusters, designed, manufactured and installed as a complete custom package for each yacht.

Six of this years sales were confirmed at the hugely successful Monaco Yacht Show in September, where orders for bow and stern thruster units were received for a 55m and a 66m sailing yacht, both due to be built in Holland. The 55m will have 2x 135hp units installed, and the 66m will have 2x 194hp units, both yachts have been specified with 24 inch / 61cm thruster tunnels.

Other recent orders this year include 2x 130hp Swing Thrusters (BTMH-20 s) to be fitted in the bow and stern of a new 50m vessel under construction in New Zealand.

Commenting on the recent surge of interest, OYS Thrusters Director, Ian Crowden said: “This year has been significant in helping us to firmly establish our reputation within the bespoke Thrusters market for large yachts. We now find ourselves being approached by Designers and Naval Architects for specifications and pre-installation work right at the outset or, at least, very early stages of their designs.”

OYS Swing Thrusters have a low profile and compact design, enabling them to be installed conveniently in low level lockers or under beds. Once retracted these systems leave a fair hull with minimal drag.

Apart from the castings and gears, in nearly all cases, OYS Thrusters are built to Lloyds Classification and designed, manufactured and assembled on site with a focus on UK sourced components for built in reliability and easier servicing.