TS EN ISO 3715-2

TS EN ISO 3715-2 is a vocabulary standard for terms and definitions used with controllable-pitch propeller plants in ships and marine technology. It establishes common terminology for propulsion arrangements in which the blade pitch can be adjusted in service, helping engineers and operators describe the system consistently.

What a controllable-pitch propeller plant means in practice

In general technical terms, a controllable-pitch propeller changes thrust by varying blade angle rather than relying only on engine speed. This gives marine propulsion systems more flexibility during manoeuvring, load changes and speed control. Hydraulic operation is central to positioning the blades accurately inside the hub, while fixed-pitch propellers do not offer this in-service pitch adjustment.

Scope and boundaries of the standard

• It applies exclusively to continuously variable and hydraulically operated controllable-pitch propeller units.
• It does not cover controllable-pitch propeller units with only a few specified pitch settings.
• It refers users to ISO 3715-1 for the general vocabulary of screw-propeller geometry, which also remains valid for controllable-pitch propellers.

Accordingly, the document is a terminology reference rather than a performance specification. Its main value lies in standardising the names used in design documentation, maintenance records and propulsion-system descriptions so that the same components and functions are understood in the same way across the marine sector.

The standard is focused on clarifying terminology, not on prescribing test procedures or numerical limits. That makes it especially useful wherever controllable-pitch propeller technology is specified, discussed or documented in shipbuilding and marine engineering.