Azipod
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Azipod is a trademarked azimuth thruster pod design, a marine propulsion unit consisting of a fixed pitch propeller mounted on a steerable gondola ("pod") containing the electric motor driving the propeller, allowing ships to be more maneuverable. They were developed in Finland in the late 1980s jointly by Wärtsilä Marine, Strömberg and the Finnish National Board of Navigation.
Closeup of one of USCGC Mackinaw's 3.3 MW Azipod units
The first Azipod unit, installed on the Finnish fairway support vessel Seili in 1990, is now displayed at the Forum Marinum maritime museum in Turku, Finland.
Azimuth thruster
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An azimuth thruster is a configuration of marine propellers placed in pods that can be rotated to any horizontal angle (azimuth), making a rudder redundant. These give ships better maneuverability than a fixed propeller and rudder system.
Siemens Schottel azimuth thrusters
Azimuth thrusters on the tug Oued el Kebir - note the Kort nozzles
The French Navy Mistral-class amphibious assault ship Dixmude manoeuvering in Jounieh bay; the wake at the stern is perpendicular to the ship, indicating the use of her azimuth thrusters.