What is a drop-down thruster?

[JACEK1]

Hello.

When reading a repair specification, I came across the word "drop-down thruster".

Can you help me?

What I know is that an ordinary thruster is a device that is installed either aft or fore and its purpose is to improve maneuverability of a ship.

Thank you.

 

[Skrej]

It's a retractable thruster - instead of being underneath the ship at a fixed position, and thus providing movement in only two directions (forward and reverse), a drop down thruster can be lowered down at various headings, giving you 360 degree thrust.