Advanced shaft generator.
Turn your main engine's mechanical power into onboard electricity, and eliminate auxiliary generator dependency at sea. A variable speed shaft generator system is one of the most cost-effective retrofits available for existing tonnage.
Main engine power, used twice.
A permanent magnet generator is mounted directly on the intermediate shaft between the main engine and propeller. As the shaft rotates, it generates electricity, feeding ship loads through a variable frequency drive and DC bus, without running auxiliary diesel generators.
The permanent magnet rotor mounts with minimal mass and inertia, avoiding impact on torsional vibration calculations. No additional bearings are required for two-stroke installations.
One system, three modes.
The shaft generator operates in the mode that best fits the situation — generating power under normal conditions, providing a safety fallback, or adding extra thrust when the main engine needs support.
Economical generation
The shaft generator produces electricity directly from main engine rotation. Auxiliary diesel generators are switched off at sea, reducing fuel consumption and engine hours.
Best for: Normal sea passage
Auxiliary propulsion
The shaft generator switches to motor mode and drives the propeller shaft if the main engine is unavailable. The vessel can return to port safely under its own power.
Best for: Redundancy & safety
Peak power boost
The shaft generator adds motor power to the propeller shaft on top of the main engine, providing extra thrust in demanding conditions such as heavy weather or canal transits.
Best for: Heavy weather, canals
Measurable savings, from day one.
Generating electricity from the main engine instead of running separate auxiliary generators eliminates a major source of fuel waste. The result is lower operational costs, fewer running hours on auxiliary engines, reduced emissions, and improved EEXI and CII ratings.
- ✓ Significant reduction in fuel consumption at sea
- ✓ Reduced auxiliary engine running hours and maintenance costs
- ✓ Lower NOx, CO₂, and greenhouse gas emissions
- ✓ Improved EEXI and CII compliance
- ✓ Quieter vessel — less vibration and noise from aux. generators
From screening to sea.
Every retrofit starts with an operational profile analysis to confirm the business case. MHS manages the full scope, from survey and simulation to engineering and class approval through installation and commissioning, so the shipowner has one point of contact throughout.
Works across ship types.
Variable speed shaft generator systems are suitable for both two-stroke slow-speed and four-stroke medium-speed main engine configurations, across a wide range of vessel types.
Bulk carriers & tankers
Long ocean passages with steady shaft speeds make bulk carriers and tankers ideal candidates. High fuel savings potential and fast payback.
Container & cargo
Variable speed shaft generator systems handle fixed and controllable pitch propeller arrangements across container and general cargo vessels.
RoRo & RoPax
Shore power connectivity and boost mode capability make shaft generators especially attractive for ferry and RoPax operators facing emission-free port requirements.
Is your vessel a candidate?
Send us your operational profile and we will assess the fuel saving potential and payback period at no cost.