World's largest composite screw. (Digest).

QinetiQ has recently completed sea trials of the world's largest composite propeller, which measures 2.9 metres in diameter and weighs significantly less than an equivalent traditional nickel aluminium bronze ship's propeller. Successful sea trials with the screw driving the RV Triton resulted in significant benefits in smooth take-up power transition and a reduced overall vibration. The project was designed to explore the application of composite materials for marine propulsion, an area where QinetiQ believes there is considerable potential--such as in podded propulsion, where weight is critical. The propeller was designed to warship standards and replaces the fixed pitch propeller that had thus far pushed the Triton.