Drive cascade system for a watercraft

A controller for a water craft including at least one drive system, the controller comprising at least one device, configured to

• operate at least one drive propeller of the drive system below a first predefinable propeller rotational speed according to a first operating state by operating at least one drive motor, connected to the at least one drive propeller, of the drive system via a first alternating voltage, wherein according to the first operating state, at least one power inverter makes the first alternating voltage available;
• operate the at least one drive propeller above the first predefinable propeller rotational speed according to a second operating state by operating the at least one drive motor via a second alternating voltage, wherein according to the second operating state, a first internal combustion engine drives a first generator, which generates the second alternating voltage;
• and
• initially operate the first internal combustion engine, during a transition from the first operating state to the second or a transition from the second operating state to the first, at a rotational speed where the at least one drive propeller is operated at the first predefinable propeller rotational speed and where the at least one power inverter synchronizes the first alternating voltage with the second alternating voltage.