A PROPULSION DRIVE ASSEMBLY WITH GAS SUPPLY TO MITIGATE FOULING

A propulsion drive assembly for a marine vessel is described. The propulsion drive assembly includes a propeller drive unit for carrying and driving at least one propeller, a housing for connection to a hull of the marine vessel, a suspension mechanism attached to the housing and configured to suspend the propeller drive unit, wherein the suspension mechanism is movable along a first longitudinal axis of the housing between a stowed position, in which the propeller drive unit is positioned inside the inner space of the housing, and a deployed position in which at least a portion of the propeller drive unit protrudes outside the housing through the first opening, and a gas supply device configured to supply gas into the inner space of the housing, the gas supply device comprising a gas pump or a controllable valve connectable to a source of pressurized gas.