Sulzer Type TD is built as a standard marine engine for direct propeller drive and suitable for all types of single-screw and multiple-screw vessels in river, lake, coastal and ocean service. The propeller thrust is transmitted directly to the thrust bearing built on to the engine through the transmission shafting.

Sulzer Type TG is chielfy used when the engine is connected to a reduction gear, a disengaging friction clutch or a flexible coupling (toothed coupling, Cardan joint, etc.), i.e. wherever the propeller thrust is taken by a thrust bearing in the gearing or behind the special coupling mentioned. For this reason, a thrust bearing built on to the engine is unnecessary. The engine type TD is thus mostly used for fishing boats (with reduction gearing), ferries, dredgers and other special-purpose vessels in which the propulsion arrangements are as described above.