Marine propulsion 

is the mechanism or system used to generate thrust to move

a watercraft through water. While paddles and sails are still used on some smaller boats, most
modern ships are propelled by mechanical systems consisting of an electric motor or internal
combustion engine driving a propeller, or less frequently, in pump-jets, an impeller. Marine
engineering is the discipline concerned with the engineering design process of marine propulsion
systems.

V12 marine diesel engines

Human-powered paddles and oars, and later, sails were the first forms of marine propulsion.
Rowed galleys, some equipped with sail, played an important early role in early
human seafaring and warfares. The first advanced mechanical means of marine propulsion was
the marine steam engine, introduced in the early 19th century. During the 20th century it was
replaced by two-stroke or four-stroke diesel engines, outboard motors, and gas turbine
engines on faster ships. Marine nuclear reactors, which appeared in the 1950s, produce steam to
propel warships and icebreakers; commercial application, attempted late that decade, failed to
catch on. Electric motors using battery packs have been used for propulsion
on submarines and electric boats and have been proposed for energy-efficient propulsion.[1]

A marine steam turbine manufactured by MAN Energy Solutions

Development in liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled engines are gaining recognition for their low
emissions and cost advantages. Stirling engines, which are quieter, smoother running, propel a
number of small submarines in order to run as quietly as possible. Its design is not used in
civilian marine application due to lower total efficiency than internal combustion engines or power
turbines.