Almost every ship has its propeller at the stern, unlike many propeller aircraft that place it at the front. This arrangement reaches back to early steamships such as the SS Archimedes, whose propeller was mounted deep in the aft section of the keel.
A stern propeller remains submerged as cargo loading changes the ship’s draft and as waves make the vessel pitch. If it were mounted near the bow, rough weather could lift it clear of the water, causing it to lose thrust when reliable propulsion matters most.
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