Breakthrough orders for large thrusters

ECO CRP propulsors, that the company says have been designed to provide efficiency and manoeuvrability at even the highest speeds, will be supplied for two multi-purpose vessels, one for the Russian Federation to be built at the Severnaya shipyard, and the other for the Republic of India, to be built at Bharat. The combined value of these orders is around €10 million.

The Russian ship will be powered by two SP 120 ECO CRP propulsors, each rated at 6,000kW, for speeds around 18 knots. The units will be classified to Arc4 ice class of the Russian Maritime Registry of Shipping (RMRS).

According to Petri Tolonen, Steerprop vice-president of sales and marketing, this order gains a significant foothold for CRP-propulsors in Russia: “These are the first CRP-propulsors that we deliver to Russia. In Norway, the Steerprop CRP solution has achieved a solid hold on the market and we hope that this upcoming delivery will open the CRP market in Russia as well. These are ECO CRP propulsors that are designed for large vessels that will operate at high speeds even in challenging conditions. The same kind of ECO CRP propulsors were sold to the Italian Fincantieri shipyards in autumn 2012.”

The Indian ship will be powered by two SP 60 ECO CRP propulsors, rated for 5,000kW per propulsor. They represent the company’s first CRP propulsor sale to India. Mr Tolonen said: “The orders from Severnaya and Bharati shipyards are very significant. They are not only opening new markets for us, but they are also clear signs that the Steerprop CRP technology has achieved a solid reputation and status in the global maritime market.”

A further order from Russia concerns the delivery of main propulsion systems for three icebreakers for the Russian Federal Agency of Marine and River Transportation, being built by United Shipbuilding Corporation. Two will be built in the Vyborg shipyard in Russia and one in the Arctech shipyard in Helsinki. The total value of the order is said to exceed €30 million. Steerprop will deliver two SP 110 ARC PULL propulsors for each vessel. The units will each be rated at 9,000kW, and classified according to the RMRS Icebreaker 7 ice-class. According to Steerprop, these units will be the most powerful mechanical azimuth propulsors in the world at the time of delivery. The first shipset will be delivered to Vyborg in the spring of 2014 and the following two sets three months and six months later, respectively.

The vessels are designed for operation in the Gulf of Finland, in up to 1.5m thick ice, assisting tankers and cargo vessels as well as acting as towing and rescue vessels. The design is an evolution of the St Petersburg and Moscow icebreakers, launched in 2008, and both equipped with Steerprop Azimuth Propulsors.

Vesa Rautiainen, Director of Steerprop said: “ The icebreakers St Petersburg and Moscow have operated around the year for several years. During these years, the captains and crews have praised the manoeuvrability and environmental friendliness of these vessels. They have, in particular, noted the efficiency, reliability and durability of the propulsion machinery.”

He continued: “This very significant contract confirms Steerprop’s position as an important supplier of ice-classified propulsors. Ice-going vessels are always very demanding applications due to their tough operation conditions. As a result of ongoing research and development, we have refined our propulsors so that they will serve our clients even more efficiently and reliably even in the toughest operation conditions.”