Diesel-electric propulsion

In diesel-electric propulsion several medium-speed generator sets feed a common high-voltage bus that supplies propulsion motors (and all ship loads) through transformers and frequency converters, decoupling engine speed from propeller speed. Running only the gensets needed for the moment keeps each near its best fuel point, which suits cruise ships, ferries, offshore, and DP vessels with widely varying load. It enables podded and azimuth drives and removes the long shaft line.