Modular azimuth thruster

An azimuth thruster for propelling a vessel, having a thruster housing around which water flows, and comprising:

• a standardized core unit having a core unit housing forming part of the thruster housing, wherein the thruster housing comprises a stub part, one end of which is adapted for being rotatably mounted on a vessel, and a torpedo part arranged at an opposite end of the stub part,
• a transmission line arranged within in the core unit housing, comprising a propeller shaft extending in a longitudinal direction of the thruster housing, and
• a propeller arranged outside the thruster housing and being operationally connected to the propeller shaft,
• wherein, the azimuth thruster is configurable as both a pulling azimuth thruster and a pushing azimuth thruster by comprising first and second hydrodynamic elements mounted on matching first and second core unit interfaces defined by exterior surface areas of the core unit housing, the hydrodynamic elements forming part of the thruster housing to control the flow of water around the thruster housing, the core unit interfaces being adapted for receiving different hydrodynamic elements having different hydrodynamic properties and wherein the first hydrodynamic element constitutes a part of both the stub part and of the torpedo part.