Steering Gear - Proven Reliability for Every Vessel Type

MacGregor offers a complete steering gear portfolio under the Hatlapa and Porsgrunn brands, covering every vessel segment from RoRo ferries to the largest tankers and container ships.
Three proven types, Rotary Vane, RAM, and Piston, deliver the high quality, durability, and built-in redundancy your vessel needs for safe and reliable operation. All systems are approved by classification societies and have a heritage of delivering steering gear since 1933

All merchant vessel types
product

Key benefits

Whether you operate tankers, container ships, bulk carriers, or specialised vessels, the right steering gear keeps your vessel safe, manoeuvrable, and compliant.

  • Proven reliability backed by decades of operational heritage and a large installed base across global fleets. These are systems that owners and operators trust, with a track record stretching back to 1933.
  • Compact, space-saving designs that reduce installation time and footprint in the steering gear compartment, freeing up valuable space on board.
  • Built-in redundancy for safe emergency operation ensures your vessel remains manoeuvrable even in the event of a system fault, meeting SOLAS safety requirements.
  • High quality and durability are inherited from the Hatlapa and Porsgrunn brands, known worldwide for robust marine engineering.
  • Energy-saving VFD options available across all types, with constant, variable, or frequency-controlled drives to match your operational profile and efficiency targets.

With three steering gear types to choose from, you get a tailored solution for your vessel’s exact requirements, backed by global service support.


Key features

The portfolio spans three proven steering gear types, each designed for specific vessel requirements and operational conditions.

Rotary Vane (Porsgrunn)

  • Compact design with full torque at all rudder angles up to 2x67°
  • All moving parts and rudder carrier are fully enclosed
  • IMO series available for oil/gas/chemical tankers above 100,000 dwt (SOLAS compliant)
  • Suitable for vessels from approximately 5,000 dwt to the largest in operation

RAM-type (Hatlapa Poseidon)

  • Integrated drive unit, piping, and rudder carrier in one compact unit
  • Rudder angles of 2x45° with built-in redundancy
  • Quick, cost-effective, and space-saving installation
  • Suitable for vessels from approximately 5,000 dwt to the largest in existence

Piston-type (Neptune)

  • Flat compartment design ideal for RoRo vessels and AHTS
  • A separate drive unit allows flexible component arrangement
  • Easy maintenance access
  • Suitable for vessels up to approximately 30,000 dwt

All three types are approved by classification societies and available with  constant, variable, or frequency-controlled (VFD) drives.

  • Lifecycle Support

    A global service network provides spare parts, technical support, and maintenance expertise for all three steering gear types throughout their operational life.

    With a large installed base worldwide and close cooperation between new sales and after-sales teams, you benefit from priority account management and rapid response wherever your vessel operates.

  • Technical Features

    Rotary Vane (Porsgrunn):

    • Rudder angles: Up to 2x67°
    • Full torque across the entire angular range
    • Enclosed moving parts and rudder carrier
    • IMO series for tankers >100,000 dwt
    • Integral or separate drive unit

    RAM-type (Hatlapa Poseidon):

    • Rudder angles: 2x45°
    • Integrated drive unit, piping, and rudder carrier
    • Built-in redundancy
    • Vessels from ~5,000 dwt to the largest

    Piston-type (Neptune):

    • Flat compartment design
    • Separate drive unit for flexible arrangement
    • Cylindrical or conical rudder stock connection
    • Vessels up to ~30,000 dwt

    All types:

    • Drives: Constant, variable, or frequency-controlled (VFD)
    • Approved by all major classification societies

  • Ship Types

    The steering gear portfolio covers all merchant vessel types:

    • Container ships
    • Oil, gas, and chemical tankers (incl. IMO series for >100,000 dwt)
    • LNG carriers
    • Bulk carriers
    • RoRo vessels
    • Anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels
    • General cargo and multipurpose vessels

     

    From approximately 5,000 dwt to the largest vessels in existence (Rotary Vane and RAM), and up to 30,000 dwt for Piston-type applications.

  • Solution Types

    • Rotary Vane steering gear (Porsgrunn) for large rudder angles and tanker IMO compliance
    • RAM-type steering gear (Hatlapa Poseidon) for compact all-in-one installation
    • Piston-type steering gear (Neptune) for flat compartments and specialised vessels
    • Energy-saving VFD drive upgrades

  • Complementary Solutions

    • Steering gear integrates with a broader portfolio of deck machinery and vessel systems:
    • Deck machinery and winches
    • Anchor and mooring system

  • References

    Steering gear under the Hatlapa and Porsgrunn brands is trusted by leading shipowners worldwide, including Hapag-Lloyd, MOL, and ONE. The large installed base and long-standing customer relationships reflect a heritage of dependable performance across all vessel segments.

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