Steerprop prepares for further growth with senior HR appointment

Finnish thruster propulsion specialist Steerprop is positioning itself for further anticipated growth and correlating to its changes with the appointment of Juuli Nyholm as Director, Human Resources. 

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Nyholm, who becomes part of the company&rsquo;s management team, joined the company in January. She brings a wealth of experience in scaling up teams and managing employee affairs in rapidly growing organizations, most recently at Finnish state-owned natural gas distribution company Gasgrid Finland.

<blockquote>
Steerprop President and CEO Riku-Pekka H&auml;gg said: &ldquo;As Steerprop builds its employee base in response to continued sales growth, it will be essential to maintain the company&rsquo;s distinctive culture and ethos. Juuli&rsquo;s career to date shows that she has been able to do so repeatedly, and we are excited to welcome her to the management team.&rdquo;
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Nyholm added: &ldquo;I look forward to embracing the challenge ahead&mdash;ensuring that Steerprop&rsquo;s growth strengthens not only its capability to serve its customers, but also enhances the rewarding and supportive workplace that team members enjoy today.&rdquo;

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Steerprop prepares for further growth with senior HR appointment

Finnish thruster propulsion specialist Steerprop is positioning itself for further anticipated growth and correlating to its changes with the appointment of Juuli Nyholm as Director, H

Juuli Nyholm appointed Director, Human Resources

The first tunnel thrusters from Finnish propulsion specialist Steerprop will enter service in the coming months, with a strong early orderbook highlighting the market need for more reliable and precise thrusters. The new range challenges the conventional approach to developing tunnel thrusters, delivering project-optimized solutions with competitive initial and lifecycle costs.

Two early tunnel thruster projects, for Finnish Border Guard patrol vessels and on what will become the world&rsquo;s largest cable laying vessel, fall within Steerprop&rsquo;s established customer base of high-demand applications for challenging operations. And orders for more than 50 TT thrusters to date indicate that Steerprop&rsquo;s flexible, purpose-specific designs not only meet operator expectations&mdash;for safety, reliability and performance&mdash;but also satisfy shipyard requirements on initial cost and delivery.

<blockquote>
Steerprop Director, Sales &amp; Project Development, Juha Rekola said: &ldquo;Tunnel thrusters are a standard feature that is thus often applied without the attention given to other propulsion elements. The result can be power either above or below requirements, and a lifetime of frustrating maintenance demands. Steerprop does things differently. By optimizing for the hull form and the application, our tunnel thrusters meet specifications and minimize lifecycle cost&mdash;at the same time dispelling the myth that purpose-designed solutions cannot compete on initial cost or meet short project timeframes.&rdquo;
</blockquote>

Steerprop&#39;s design approach results in <a href="https://bit.ly/43fNbHw">tunnel thrusters</a> that perfectly align with the specific requirements of each vessel. The holistic optimization process covers every detail, including computer analysis of the vessel&#39;s hull and tunnel parameters, with customization of every element&mdash;from propeller to motor&mdash;available to develop the ideal solution. These design capabilities are increasingly important as operators aim to improve comfort by reducing vibrations&nbsp;and&nbsp;minimize impact on marine life by reducing underwater radiated noise.

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Design flexibility is built into Steerprop&rsquo;s development approach. As an example, the company does not offer a standard size range of propellers. Instead, each propeller is dimensioned precisely for purpose. Similar adaptability can be implemented where needed across the propulsion design. This includes the drive configuration&nbsp;and permanent magnet motor or induction motor&mdash;as well as adjustments to the mounting and gearbox to improve durability and fit space constraints. This responsiveness and the inherent efficiency of Steerprop&rsquo;s thrusters translate to low lifecycle costs while retaining competitive capital outlay.

The entire tunnel thruster line features fixed pitch propellers (FPP). Compared to controllable pitch propellers, these deliver up to 20% more thrust, allowing for installed power to be reduced and a smaller tunnel aperture to be used, because FP propellers only use energy to generate thrust, instead of spinning at full speed in standby, they also reduce operational costs. This also helps to reduce noise and vibrations.

In line with Steerprop&rsquo;s Arctic heritage, all units can be delivered also to highest ice class. Uniquely, Steerprop&rsquo;s tunnel thrusters do not require ice grids to meet ice class, eliminating the effects of ice clogging and reducing maintenance by simplifying access to the propeller.

The most recent tunnel thruster design, the 2,100kW SP 40 TT, is suitable for deployment on heavy-duty offshore vessels. Larger units for cruise vessels and smaller units for ferries and workboats are also available, with the full range covering 500 to 7,000kW.

A model of the new SP 40 TT will be on display at Nor-Shipping in Oslo, 2&ndash;6 June. 
We warmly welcome you to visit us at stand D02-40 to learn more.

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The first tunnel thrusters from Finnish propulsion specialist Steerprop will enter service in the coming months, with a strong early orderbook highlighting the market need for more reliable and precise thrusters. The new range challenges the conventi

Steerprop brings purpose-built ethos to price-sensitive tunnel thruster market

Finnish propulsion specialist Steerprop has expanded its range of retractable thrusters with its biggest unit to date. Designed for offshore vessels and workboats that need high-performance station-keeping or thrust boost capabilities, the SP 45 R will be introduced on several offshore, renewables and special purpose vessels.

Steerprop Director, Sales &amp; Project Development, Juha Rekola, said: &ldquo;Steerprop provides propulsion that won&rsquo;t let you down, proven time and again on vessels operating in the most challenging conditions.&quot;

<blockquote>
&quot;When we first looked at retractable thrusters, it was clear that some aspects were letting operators down. After rigorous testing, we believe we have designed the most robust and reliable retractable thrusters on the market&rdquo;, Rekola continues.
</blockquote>

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Working with vessel operators and designers, Steerprop identified that the sealing and locking mechanisms are often a weak point for retractable designs. <a href="https://bit.ly/43rurFg">The R series</a> minimizes downtime, maintenance demands and space required onboard while delivering the high-performance propulsion and dynamic positioning capabilities needed by today&rsquo;s offshore vessels.

The patent-pending seal design minimizes downtime by actively managing water ingress, with low maintenance requirements that can be performed from inside the vessel during normal operation. A floating housing moves with the stern tube to keep the seals in contact even at high speeds and sea states, and a simple scraping solution reduces marine growth on the stern tube&mdash;a primary cause of seal damage.

A hydraulic locking and lifting mechanism ensures maximum reliability and addresses another common challenge for traditional retractable thruster designs&mdash;available deck space. The compact, zero-clearance solution fits entirely below the main deck of most standard vessel designs, ensuring that the prime real estate onboard can be fully utilized for the ship&rsquo;s main mission.

The fixed-pitch propulsion concept further reduces maintenance demands, while delivering the propulsion performance for which Steerprop&rsquo;s existing range of thrusters is renowned. Like the other thrusters in the R series, the SP 45 R is available in L-drive, permanent magnet or induction electric motor configurations&mdash;fitting a range of vessel power configurations. Electric steering gear ensures the precision needed for dynamic positioning, while power and propeller size can be adapted to meet the specific requirements of each application, within a power range of 900 to 4,000kW.

Rekola added: &ldquo;As offshore vessels increasingly rely on dynamic positioning, retractable thrusters are becoming an essential element of high-performing vessel designs. The SP 45 R works in conjunction with our main azimuth and tunnel thrusters to provide complete control in propulsion and station keeping.&rdquo;

A model of the new SP 45 R will be on display at Nor-Shipping in Oslo, 2&ndash;6 June. 
We warmly welcome you to visit us at stand D02-40 to learn more.

Finnish propulsion specialist Steerprop has expanded its range of retractable thrusters with its biggest unit to date. Designed for offshore vessels and workboats that need high-performance station-keeping or thrust boost capabilities, the SP 45 R wi

Steerprop puts reliability in focus with launch of largest retractable thruster

Finnish propulsion specialist Steerprop has appointed Marit Holmlund-Sund as its new Director of Brand, Marketing &amp; Communications. Holmlund-Sund, who joined Steerprop in March, will be responsible for growing awareness of the company&rsquo;s high-quality propulsion systems throughout the maritime industry. Holmlund-Sund will be part of the management team of Steerprop.

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Holmlund-Sund has an extensive background in maritime marketing, having worked with Finnish technology company W&auml;rtsila within the area of brand, marketing and communications for more than 25 years. She was also Head of Brand &amp; Marketing for the Finnish adventure boating company Axopar, and was most recently Head of International Relations for Novia University of Applied Sciences, Finland.

<blockquote>
Steerprop President and CEO Riku-Pekka H&auml;gg said: &ldquo;Marit&rsquo;s unique background in managing brand reputation and marketing for marine technololgy companies will be essential as Steerpop aims to capitalise on its successes over the past 25 years. Building recognition of the Steerprop name beyond the vessel segments in which we already hold a high market share will be crucial for our future growth and Marit is ideally equipped to help us meet that challenge.&rdquo;
</blockquote>

Steerprop Director of Brand, Marketing &amp; Communications Marit Holmlund-Sund said: &ldquo;It is a pleasure to join a company that has an impressive reputation for high-quality technology, and has such huge potential to bring that quality to an even wider base of customers. I am looking forward to supporting spread Steerprop&rsquo;s vision of propulsion that ship operators can rely on.&rdquo;

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Finnish propulsion specialist Steerprop has appointed Marit Holmlund-Sund as its new Director of Brand, Marketing &amp; Communications. Holmlund-Sund, who joined Steerprop in March, will be responsible for growing awareness of the company’s high-qual

Marit Holmlund-Sund to lead Brand, Marketing & Communications

Thruster propulsion specialist Steerprop has appointed Juhani Hupli as its new Director of Service. Hupli, who joined Steerprop in February, will lead the development and delivery of the company&rsquo;s lifecycle solutions for its thrusters, which operators rely on to maximize reliability and availability while operating in the world&rsquo;s most challenging marine environments. Hupli will be part of the management team of Steerprop.

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Hupli brings over 25 years of experience in the maritime industry, having held several senior management roles at W&auml;rtsil&auml;. Most recently, he served as Vice President, Transformations and Strategy for the company&rsquo;s marine digital technology division, where he played a key role in driving innovation across a wide range of service and digitalization initiatives.

<blockquote>
Steerprop President and CEO Riku-Pekka H&auml;gg said: &ldquo;Juhani&rsquo;s extensive leadership experience in marine digital solutions make him the ideal person to advance Steerprop&rsquo;s service offering. From managing spare parts logistics and service agreements through to data-enabled optimization of thruster performance across the vessel lifecycle, digital tools are critical to our ability to deliver service that exceeds our customers&rsquo; expectations. Juhani will play a key role in taking that service to the next level.&rdquo;
</blockquote>

Steerprop Director of Service Juhani Hupli said: &ldquo;Steerprop has built a reputation for making the world&rsquo;s most reliable high-performance thrusters for the most demanding marine applications. Now, as the company aims to bring that quality to an even wider market, it is critical that the service offering also evolves to meet the needs of a larger and more diverse customer base. I am looking forward to taking on that challenge.&rdquo;

Lifecycle solutions for Steerprop thrusters include data insights delivered through the Steerprop Care condition monitoring system. Included in every delivery, this allows crew to follow machinery trends through a dedicated app and detect in advance deviations that could affect the propulsion system. Steerprop can also monitor and report on thruster and propulsion data&mdash;including vibrations and lube oil condition&mdash;to further support reliable operations and help ensure safe and reliable operations throughout the lifecycle.

Thruster propulsion specialist Steerprop has appointed Juhani Hupli as its new Director of Service. Hupli, who joined Steerprop in February, will lead the development and delivery of the company’s lifecycle solutions for its thrusters, which operator

Juhani Hupli to advance thruster lifecycle service offering

A new Field Support Vessel being built by Crist S.A. in Gdynia, Poland, to operate on the Grand Banks off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, will feature a full propulsion scope from Steerprop.

Vessel operating conditions on the Grand Banks are extremely challenging due to heavy seas, fog and icebergs. This emphasizes the importance of the ship&rsquo;s propulsion thrusters in maintaining dynamic positioning and facilitating safe and reliable operations. Steerprop&rsquo;s capabilities in providing this level of efficiency were cited as being important considerations in the contract award.

<blockquote>
Juho Rekola, Director Sales and Project Management at Steerprop, said: &ldquo;This project underlines our strengths and expertise in enabling vessels to cope effectively with challenging operations in demanding conditions.Maneuverability is critical in these circumstances, and our fit-for-purpose solutions ensure reliability and safety when it is needed the most.&rdquo;
</blockquote>

The vessel is on order from DOF Group ASA. It is expected to enter service in the first half of 2027. Steerprop&rsquo;s advanced thruster solutions, with a 100t bollard pull, DP3 capabilities, and Ice Class 1A ratings.

The full Steerprop scope includes two <a href="https://bit.ly/4iHdLjp">azimuth thrusters</a> for main propulsion, two <a href="https://bit.ly/4hL0V2k">tunnel thrusters</a> and a <a href="https://bit.ly/4hKcZ3J">retractable thruster</a>. Steerprop will also provide condition monitoring services and seal wear monitoring for the shaft seals. Deliveries of the equipment will commence in summer 2025.

The 110-metre-long vessel, based on the MMC Ship Design &amp; Marine Consulting Ltd. 995L SBC hull design, will be owned and operated by DOF Group ASA, The ship is designed to accommodate 164 personnel.

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<figcaption>Caption 1: The new field support vessel for DOF Group ASA will be equipped with two Steerprop SP 50 WD - azimuth thrusters, two SP 25 TT - tunnel thrusters and one SP 20 R - retractable thruster. DOF Group ASA</figcaption>
</figure>

<figure class="article__figure">
<div class="article__figure__placeholder"><a class="article__figure__link" data-type="image" href="https://flockler.com/thumbs/sites/13425/sp50d_8-copy-027b97d2-2109-4ec7-83ba-d49280c25fc2_s1800x0_q80_noupscale.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://flockler.com/thumbs/sites/13425/sp50d_8-copy-027b97d2-2109-4ec7-83ba-d49280c25fc2_s600x0_q80_noupscale.jpg" /></a></div>

<figcaption>Caption 2: Steerprop SP 50 WD &ndash; azimuth thruster. Steerprop</figcaption>
</figure>

<figure class="article__figure">
<div class="article__figure__placeholder"><a class="article__figure__link" data-type="image" href="https://flockler.com/thumbs/sites/13425/sp10tt_4-copy-6d073803-2c5e-47f2-b62b-c4b8232781ae_s1800x0_q80_noupscale.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://flockler.com/thumbs/sites/13425/sp10tt_4-copy-6d073803-2c5e-47f2-b62b-c4b8232781ae_s600x0_q80_noupscale.jpg" /></a></div>

<figcaption>Caption 3: Steerprop SP 25 TT - tunnel thruster. Steerprop</figcaption>
</figure>

<figure class="article__figure">
<div class="article__figure__placeholder"><a class="article__figure__link" data-type="image" href="https://flockler.com/thumbs/sites/13425/retractable_24-id-335685-_edit2-copy-64dc34b9-cff4-4520-a216-11b125b96329_s1800x0_q80_noupscale.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://flockler.com/thumbs/sites/13425/retractable_24-id-335685-_edit2-copy-64dc34b9-cff4-4520-a216-11b125b96329_s600x0_q80_noupscale.jpg" /></a></div>

<figcaption>Caption 4: Steerprop SP 20 R - retractable thruster. Steerprop</figcaption>
</figure>

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A new Field Support Vessel being built for DOF Group ASA

Steerprop propulsion solutions chosen for field support vessel set to operate in harsh Canadian offshore conditions

A new Field Support Vessel being built for DOF Group ASA, to operate on the Grand Banks off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, will feature a full propulsion scope from Steerprop.

Every year, Steerprop provides students with the opportunity to blend their theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience by writing their diploma thesis on topics that in some way may contribute to the company&rsquo;s development.

One example is Harri Pajala, a 25-year-old mechanical engineering student at Aalto University, who completed his diploma thesis at Steerprop during last summer. Originally from Vantaa, Harri has recently graduated from his studies, with a focus on solid mechanics.

Harri first joined Steerprop during the summer of 2023, after hearing about the company from a fellow student in Rauma. Following on this first summer trainee period, the opportunity to write his diploma thesis arose, and by the end of the summer, everything was set.

His expectations were clear from the beginning: &ldquo;Since I had already spent several months familiarizing myself with the equipment, I had a good sense of what to expect. My supervisors and I had discussed the details of the diploma work thoroughly already at the end of the summer 2023.&rdquo;

His first summer at Steerprop laid a strong foundation for his thesis work. &ldquo;I got hands-on experience with the ANSYS software, which I used for stress and displacement simulations. This gave me a significant advantage when I started working on my thesis, as I was provided with my own ANSYS license,&rdquo; he says.

Harri&rsquo;s diploma thesis revolved around verifying the pre-tensioning method of a propeller shaft using FEM simulations, which required both theoretical and practical work. He spent much of his time measuring displacements in the hangar and combining this data with simulations. &ldquo;The thesis was a mostly independent project, as the concept of verifying bearing preload was developed specifically for my work. We discussed ideas a lot with my supervisors, but it was mostly up to me to get things done,&rdquo; he says.

When asked about the highlights of his summer, Harri mentions the opportunity to step away from the computer and conduct measurements in the assembly shop. &ldquo;It gave me a chance to escape from the computer for a while. The most interesting aspect was developing a method for the FEM simulation, which allowed us to realistically simulate the friction surface in a reasonable amount of time,&rdquo; he says.

Throughout the summer, Harri appreciated the positive working atmosphere and the support from his colleagues. He formed strong connections, having worked with some of the team members during the previous summer.

As Harri reflects on his time at Steerprop, he is particularly grateful for the skills he developed in FEM simulation and the insights he gained into marine engineering. &ldquo;The diploma thesis and the previous summer job had a positive effect on my interest in the maritime industry. Before joining Steerprop, I wasn&rsquo;t very aware of the marine industry, but now I definitely want to continue working in this field, and specifically with propulsion solutions,&rdquo; Harri explains.

Harri plans to deepen his knowledge and he has continued working as Design Engineer with Steerprop&rsquo;s technical analysis team. Harri concludes his reflection on his time at Steerprop with warm words:

&ldquo;The work environment has been great, and my colleagues have made the job enjoyable. I&rsquo;m looking forward to continuing my journey with Steerprop.&rdquo;

<h2 class="article__heading--h2">Are you looking for a summerjob or thesis topic?</h2>

Feel free to contact us at careers(at)steerprop.com to discuss possible thesis topics and to apply for a thesis collaboration, summer job or internship. Also check out our <a href="https://steerprop.com/careers/join-us">open positions</a>!

Every year, Steerprop provides students with the opportunity to blend their theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience by writing their diploma thesis on topics that in some way may contribute to the company’s development.

A summer of practical learning, thesis work and industry insights

Last summer, Ilona Sj&ouml;blom took her first steps into the world of maritime technology as a summer employee at Steerprop. This summer the 23-year-old Environmental Engineering student at the University of Oulu returned to Steerprop to build on the experience she gained in the QHSE team last year.

&quot;The work continued directly from last summer. Between the summers, I worked on my Bachelor&#39;s thesis as an hourly employee, focusing on calculating the carbon footprint of Steerprop&acute;s propulsion unit. This summer, I&rsquo;ve been able to concretely use the calculation model I developed,&quot; she explains.

This year, Ilona&rsquo;s role expanded to focus even more on environmental issues: &ldquo;My job description has changed from last year and is now more focused on environmental issues, especially on calculating the carbon footprint of the organization and products,&rdquo; she says. &quot;These are large, time-consuming projects, and they&#39;ve filled up my desk the most. Of course, I&rsquo;ve also had some familiar tasks from last year, like occupational safety issues, quality documentation, and translation work.&quot;

One of the biggest challenges Ilona encountered is the early stage of carbon footprint calculation in the maritime industry. &quot;Carbon footprint calculation is still in its infancy for some players in the maritime industry, which makes our work more challenging,&quot; Ilona says. &quot;But with new legal regulations, this will soon become mandatory, and I&rsquo;m excited to see how the industry will change.&quot;

Ilona appreciates the opportunity to continue developing her skills, not just in environmental engineering but also in understanding the maritime industry.

<blockquote>
It&rsquo;s been great to deepen my knowledge in this field. Working on the concrete process of calculating the carbon footprint is an interesting continuation of the theoretical work I did for my Bachelor&rsquo;s thesis, even though it came with some challenges,&nbsp;she says.
</blockquote>

&quot;My next goal is to write my Master&rsquo;s thesis, likely on sustainability and environmental issues. It&rsquo;s going to be a key part of my studies in my fifth year, and I&rsquo;m hoping to continue contributing to Steerprop&rsquo;s responsibility agenda,&quot; she continues, already looking ahead.

As for her experience at Steerprop this summer, Ilona reflects on the strong team dynamics. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s been nice to work with familiar faces from last summer and get to know them better this year. We&rsquo;ve also had some great new additions to the team, and the atmosphere has been really good,&quot; she says.

Ilona remains optimistic about the future of the maritime industry. &ldquo;The maritime industry offers huge opportunities for environmental engineering students like me, especially with the growing need for emissions calculations,&rdquo; she explains. &quot;With many companies setting deadlines for carbon neutrality, I&rsquo;m excited to see what&rsquo;s ahead.&quot;

Ilona&rsquo;s summer work has been a valuable continuation of her learning and professional development:

<blockquote>
I&rsquo;ve learned so much working with emissions calculations, even though I started with a blank slate. It&rsquo;s been challenging to create and implement a new process, but I&rsquo;ve gained a lot of useful skills in the very field I want to work in going forward.
</blockquote>

As she prepares for the next chapter in her studies and career, Ilona is thankful for the opportunities Steerprop has provided. &quot;I&rsquo;m grateful for the chance to continue working here while studying, and I look forward to seeing the final carbon footprint reports for both the organization and products. Even though there&rsquo;s still work to be done, we&rsquo;ve made significant progress since last summer,&quot; she concludes.

Steerprop&acute;s Summer Trainee positions for summer 2025 are now open. Read more and apply here&nbsp;<a href="https://steerprop.com/careers/summer25" rel="">https://steerprop.com/careers/summer25</a>

Ilona Sjöblom deepened her knowledge as a Summer Trainee at Steerprop, focusing on sustainability and carbon footprint calculations in the maritime industry.

Ilona's Second Summer at Steerprop – Sustainability in focus

Arttu Sepp&auml;nen, 22 years old, originally from Pori but now living in Helsinki, is pursuing a Master&rsquo;s degree in Industrial Engineering and Management at Aalto University. He&rsquo;s heading into his third year of studies this fall, following an interesting summer as a trainee at Steerprop.

&ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t familiar with Steerprop before applying, so I did some research online. The positive experiences shared by previous summer workers really stood out to me &mdash; they had been involved in meaningful tasks and genuinely enjoyed working at the company,&rdquo; Arttu explains. Steerprop definitely lived up to his expectations: &rdquo;If you&#39;re looking for versatile, meaningful work, Steerprop provides an excellent environment to start your career and develop your professional skills.&rdquo;

Arttu&rsquo;s previous experience working in production had taught him valuable lessons about the fast-paced environment of production management. But Steerprop provided a new, exciting challenge in the maritime, an industry he had little prior knowledge of. &ldquo;The maritime industry, both in Finland and globally, was something I hadn&rsquo;t really explored. The projects Steerprop is involved in are enormous, both in terms of physical scale and complexity. This became very tangible when I first visited the assembly hall,&rdquo; Arttu recalls.

Arttu&rsquo;s summer at Steerprop was filled with learning opportunities. &ldquo;I set myself a goal to learn something new every week, and Steerprop absolutely delivered on that,&rdquo; he says. From project planning and resource management to risk assessment and communication with stakeholders, Arttu received a comprehensive introduction to the world of project management processes and practices.

<blockquote>
The atmosphere at Steerprop was incredibly welcoming from day one,&rdquo; Arttu says. &ldquo;The orientation was well-structured, and I received thorough training for my role. My supervisor and colleagues were always available to help, making the learning process smooth.
</blockquote>

The positive work environment and team spirit were an important part of Arttu&rsquo;s summer experience. &ldquo;There was a real sense of camaraderie. Everyone valued each other&rsquo;s contributions, and it motivated me to keep improving. The interaction with fellow summer workers also broadened his perspective on the company&rsquo;s operations beyond his own tasks,&rdquo; he says.

Beyond the day-to-day tasks, Arttu was surprised by the sheer length of maritime projects. &ldquo;The lifecycle of these projects is incredibly long, from initiation to the ship&rsquo;s launch. It made sense in hindsight, given the number of stakeholders and the complexity of the projects,&rdquo; he says.

<blockquote>
One of the most memorable moments for Arttu was leading his own project for the first time: &ldquo;I had the opportunity to apply what I&rsquo;d learned in school and present the strategic importance of recruiting STEM experts for Steerprop&rsquo;s future competitiveness to the management team.
</blockquote>

The summer at Steerprop provided Arttu with valuable insights into project management, and while he enjoyed the experience, he realized he wanted to deepen his understanding of company strategy. Steerprop supported his interest, allowing him to transition to strategy-related tasks this autumn, where he could further explore and contribute to strategic initiatives. In addition, Arttu&rsquo;s experience has sparked a newfound interest in organizational well-being and agility. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m curious about how we can create work environments where people don&rsquo;t get burned out or feel unwell. It&rsquo;s something I want to explore further in my studies,&rdquo; he continues.

As for the maritime industry, although it wasn&rsquo;t initially on his radar, the summer opened his eyes to the opportunities it offers. &ldquo;This experience has definitely broadened my horizons, and I&rsquo;m excited to see where my career takes me,&rdquo; he concludes.

<h4 class="article__heading--h4">Steerprop&acute;s Summer Trainee positions are open. Read more <a href="https://steerprop.com/careers/summer25" rel="">here</a>. 
 
Don&rsquo;t hesitate, apply now to join our growing team of likeminded professionals!</h4>

Arttu Seppänen gained valuable hands-on experience and developed a clear career vision during his summer internship at Steerprop.

Gaining hands-on experience and building a career vision

Steerprop&#39;s fit-for-purpose propulsion system will help to maintain environmental performance and provide the manoeuvrability needed for operations in and around deeper offshore power projects.

Set to be delivered in 2026, the Fleeming Jenkin will be the world&#39;s largest Cable-Laying Vessel (CLV) to date. By optimizing the propulsion system to be in line with the ship&#39;s operating profile, maritime environmental regulations, and customer requirements, Steerprop has done its part to ensure that the new CLV will also be the world&#39;s cleanest.

The Fleeming Jenkin is being built by China Merchants Heavy Industry Haimen (CMHI) and will be owned by Jan De Nul Group. The main propulsion for the Fleeming Jenkin will come from four azimuth thrusters. Manoeuvrability will be enhanced by three tunnel thrusters and two retractable. An additional full main thruster and extensive spares package will also be supplied as part of the contract. In addition to the Fleeming Jenkin, Jan De Nul is also building a second identical vessel with three carousels and a cable-carrying capacity of 28,000 tonnes.

The move reflects a confidence in the technology and design competence of Steerprop, according to Juho Rekola, Director, Sales and Project Management, &quot;This is a milestone project for us, and not just because of the technology; we showed that we were able to adapt to various end-customer requirements and be flexible in terms of CMHI&#39;s needs in order to ensure that the building and commissioning phases occur seamlessly. It demonstrates our ability to address the requirements of even the most demanding of applications from within our extended product portfolio.&quot;

&quot;This is our first time working with Steerprop. We hope that this cooperation will be smooth and demonstrate its expertise, and we are looking forward to doing more together in the future,&quot; says Tao Chen, CMHI (Jiangsu) Deputy GM.

<blockquote>
Fleeming Jenkin bundles all the cable installation expertise we&#39;ve gained over the past decade. This vessel and the technologies on board are designed by our in-house specialists. We are happy to add to that the expertise of Steerprop in delivering a comprehensive propulsion system for our cable-laying vessel under construction, resulting in high-maneuverable and performant vessel&nbsp;for challenging offshore conditions. We look forward to working together on this project,&quot; says Jan Van de Velde, Director of Newbuilds at Jan De Nul.
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Juho Rekola adds that the Fleeming Jenkin demonstrates how Steerprop is committed to fully understanding customers&#39; needs, requirements and expectations. &quot;Ship-owners shouldn&#39;t have to compromize because they&#39;ve been forced to choose a solution straight from a manufacturer&#39;s catalogue. Instead, they should set challenges and expect their suppliers to rise to them. The Fleeming Jenkin is a fine example of how this philosophy can help to shape reality.&quot;

Steerprop's fit-for-purpose propulsion system will help to maintain environmental performance and provide the manoeuvrability needed for operations in and around deeper offshore power projects.

Steerprop Selected to Provide Comprehensive Propulsion Systems for World's Largest Cable-Laying Vessel

Steerprop, the leading designer and manufacturer of propulsion systems, is pleased to announce the appointment of Teemu M&auml;kinen (M.Sc. Engineering) as Production Director and member of the Steerprop Management Team, effective August 1, 2024. This appointment will further strengthen the company&rsquo;s strategic ambitions to enhance production capabilities, meet increasing volumes, adhere to the latest manufacturing requirements, and respond the growing market demand.

Teemu M&auml;kinen has an extensive background with a proven track record in the maritime industry. He has built a robust career with extensive expertise in production management, particularly in steel production and large-scale project execution.

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<div class="article__figure__placeholder"><img alt="Steerprop is pleased to announce the appointment of Teemu Mäkinen Production Director and member of the Steerprop Management Team, effective August 1, 2024." src="https://flockler.com/thumbs/sites/13425/teemu-m-kinen_official_web5-7ad4cd4c-d601-4cab-a291-0e4e509e85f0_s600x0_q80_noupscale.jpg" /></div>
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He joins Steerprop from Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC), where he dedicated the past nine years in various key roles. At RMC, M&auml;kinen held positions as Production Manager, Project Manager, and Procurement Manager, among other responsibilities in service and sales. His extensive experience equips him with the skills and knowledge to make a substantial contribution to Steerprop&#39;s global operations.

&ldquo;I am thrilled to join Steerprop and take on this new challenge,&rdquo; said M&auml;kinen. &ldquo;This opportunity came at the perfect time, allowing me to bring my experience in production management to a company renowned for its high-quality products. I look forward to contributing to Steerprop&rsquo;s continued success and helping drive the organization forward with new and exciting projects.&rdquo;

<blockquote>
Teemu M&auml;kinen&#39;s extensive background and deep understanding of the maritime industry make him a valuable addition to our team,&rdquo; says Riku-Pekka H&auml;gg, CEO at Steerprop. &ldquo;His expertise in production and project management will be instrumental as we continuously strive for business growth while maintaining the high standards our clients expect.
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Steerprop is known for its customer-centricity and high-quality products, and M&auml;kinen&rsquo;s appointment is expected to further strengthen the company&rsquo;s position in the industry. His role will focus on driving development initiatives, maintaining product quality, and steering the industrialization of the company&rsquo;s manufacturing processes.

Steerprop is pleased to announce the appointment of Teemu Mäkinen as Production Director effective August 1, 2024. 

Steerprop appoints experienced maritime professional as new Production Director

Steerprop is pleased to announce the appointment of Teemu Mäkinen as Production Director effective August 1, 2024. This appointment will further strengthen the company’s strategic ambitions to enhance production capabilities, meet increasing volumes, adhere to the latest manufacturing requirements, and respond the growing market demand.

Steerprop has been chosen to provide a comprehensive Polar Class 4 (PC 4) propulsion package for the Canadian Coast Guard&#39;s Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs) renewal program.

The contract entails the supply of propulsion packages for the initial six MPVs, integral to Canada&#39;s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). Steerprop&#39;s solution comprises two tunnel thrusters for auxiliary propulsion and two Contra-Rotating Propulsors (CRP) for main propulsion, meticulously engineered to meet the stringent operational demands of the vessels in challenging Arctic waters.

Recognized for their expertise in ice-strengthened Arctic propulsion systems, Steerprop&#39;s solution ensures exceptional operational reliability, maneuverability, and efficiency, essential for the diverse missions undertaken by the Canadian Coast Guard in the Eastern and Western Seaboards and the western and lower Arctic.

The CRP units not only serve propulsion needs but also facilitate efficient ice management, crucial for maintaining safe navigation channels and responding to emergencies in icy conditions. With a design that optimizes efficiency even at lower power levels, Steerprop&#39;s solution minimizes energy consumption while maximizing operational versatility and reliability.

Juho Rekola, Director of Sales and Project Management at Steerprop, stated, &quot;Our commitment to delivering the best possible propulsion systems and engineering support for our customers is at the heart of everything we do at Steerprop. This project exemplifies our resolve to support our customer in enhancing vessel performance and environmental friendliness without compromising on stringent requirements for operational availability.&rdquo;

He continued, &quot;This contract not only guarantees significant growth and a stable base load&nbsp;for an extended period but also plays a vital role in shaping the future of Steerprop. Establishing a permanent presence in Canada, this project further strengthens our expansion efforts across North America.&quot;

<blockquote>
Seaspan Shipyards is pleased to award this mission-critical propulsion system contract which will help enable the Canadian Coast Guard to safely and efficiently operate the MPVs across the wide range of environmental conditions encountered in Canadian waters.&nbsp;said David Belton, Senior Program Director, Multi-Purpose Vessels at Seaspan Shipyards.
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Steerprop has been chosen to provide a comprehensive Polar Class 4 (PC 4) propulsion package for the Canadian Coast Guard's Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs) renewal program. 

Steerprop Selected to Supply Main Propulsion and Tunnel Thrusters for Canadian Coast Guard Multi-Purpose Vessels Program

We at Steerprop come from a culture of curiosity for our customers&rsquo; business and of applying our enthusiasm, experience and innovation to improve it. Our culture is built on working for a purpose, on designing and delivering solutions that have a real impact and make a real difference. This resolve to perform&nbsp;has always guided the ingenious minds of the Steerprop R&amp;D department.

We provide our customers with superior propulsion units with outstanding efficiency, exceptional reliability and the lowest lifecycle costs on the market. Our gear design specialists, technical analysts and hydrodynamists are all working hard toward this end.

<blockquote>
With our high-quality propeller designs we improve propulsion efficiency, we also constantly work on lowering mechanical losses and optimizing the shapes of underwater parts. The equation is easy - more efficient propulsion units means lower fuel consumption and better returns for our customers!
</blockquote>

The reliability of our propulsion units is essential. They are used on vessels involved in very critical operations, such as ice management, on icebreakers, oil platforms, wind farm maintenance vessels and cruise vessels, where any interruption can cause huge losses. To maximize the reliability of the propulsion units, our technical department needs to consider the challenging conditions in both open and icy waters in their calculations. For example, different kinds of load cases need to be considered and propulsor tooth contact patterns need to be designed to be ideal for every specific condition and situation.

To ensure lowest lifecycle costs, we have developed Steerprop Care, our condition monitoring service, which enables us to support our customers in their operations and ensure operational quality throughout the lifetime of the vessel. For example, by monitoring the life of the propulsor unit&rsquo;s power transmission line, unnecessary downtime and maintenance can be avoided and both time and money can be saved. Steerprop Care turns unplanned disturbances into planned service.

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<div class="article__figure__placeholder"><img alt="Our R&amp;D specialist work in close cooperation with our component suppliers and manufacturers" src="https://flockler.com/thumbs/sites/13425/shutterstock_1682600965_crop_green_small-d9ea0973-3acd-4763-ab4b-c4767cbb2c09_s600x0_q80_noupscale.jpg" /></div>
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<h2 class="article__heading--h2">Close cooperation to achieve the very best</h2>

To be able to add true value to our customers&rsquo; business, we are always open to new ideas and developments. This requires close cooperation with our component suppliers and manufacturers, listening to their research projects, being curious and continuously learning more.

The maritime industry also presents new challenges. When customers ask eg. for larger propulsors, it calls for complex considerations when it comes to material properties and manufacturability. By working in close cooperation with the world&rsquo;s leading component manufacturers, we can meet these industry challenges. For example, cooperation with companies that specialize in gears has helped us to achieve the proper hardening depths for gear sets. In this way, we can shape the lower body and get even greater results in efficiency.

<blockquote>
Only the best is good enough for us. We do not make any compromises when it comes to reliability. As we are determined to create even more efficient propulsion systems for the market, we concentrate on optimizing the shape of underwater parts to minimize flow resistance and take greater advantages of the contra-rotating propellers. In our optimization studies, we use model tests and CFD calculations.
</blockquote>

As part of our commitment to developing propulsion technology that improve overall efficiency, we have developed the contra-rotating propulsion (CRP) technology ECO product line. The whole propulsor is pressure lubricated to lower mechanical losses compared with the commonly used oil bath lubrication technology. To ensure the reliability of the propulsion units, they are subject to comprehensive factory tests where the functionality of the system is tested and verified.

Another big development is our Steerprop LM unit, which uses an integrated permanent magnet (PM) motor that offers much better efficiency compared to a traditional induction electric motor. Moreover, by replacing our upper gear with an LM motor, we get more room in the ship for other components and we can avoid upper gear excitations in the ship hull, which is especially important for cruise vessels.

<h2 class="article__heading--h2">Teamwork all the way</h2>

Resolving the challenges in the market and delivering on our promise is not a one-person process or project. To succeed in performing the very best solutions for our customers, it is important to be surrounded by visionaries and brilliant individuals that work together for a common goal.

Steerprop&rsquo;s R&amp;D department has highly motivated in-house experts from many different fields. Along with external specialists, we work closely together to produce outstanding propulsion solutions. We do our very best every day, bringing skills from mechanical design and analyzing, hydraulics, hydrodynamics, materials, and sealing systems to create superior products to meet our customers&rsquo; needs.

<blockquote>
In this way, we can fulfill our customers&rsquo; demands for more efficient and more reliable propulsion systems with the best lifecycle costs on the market.
</blockquote>

<h2 class="article__heading--h2"> 
Author</h2>

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Janne Martikainen 
Director, Technology and Product Management

Janne holds a M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Aalto University and joined Steerprop in 2013. He is responsible for the development of the Steerprop product portfolio, engineering for R&amp;D as well as project engineering. His main focus is to continuously improve design practices, in order for Steerprop to be able to create the most customer driven, reliable and flexible products on the market.
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&nbsp;

Our culture is built on working for a purpose, on designing and delivering solutions that have a real impact and make a real difference. This resolve to perform has always guided the ingenious minds of the Steerprop R&D department.

Propulsion innovations that challenge the industry

Steerprop is a leading designer and manufacturer of azimuth propulsion systems for the most demanding applications and toughest conditions.
Our culture is built on working for a purpose, on designing and delivering solutions that have a real impact and make a real difference.


Propulsion innovations that challenge the industry

Steerprop puts reliability in focus with launch of largest retractable thruster

Juuli Nyholm appointed Director, Human Resources

Steerprop brings purpose-built ethos to price-sensitive tunnel thruster market

Steerprop Stories

Juuli Nyholm appointed Director, Human Resources

Steerprop brings purpose-built ethos to price-sensitive tunnel thruster market

Steerprop puts reliability in focus with launch of largest retractable thruster

Marit Holmlund-Sund to lead Brand, Marketing & Communications

Juhani Hupli to advance thruster lifecycle service offering

Steerprop propulsion solutions chosen for field support vessel set to operate in harsh Canadian offshore conditions

A summer of practical learning, thesis work and industry insights

Ilona's Second Summer at Steerprop – Sustainability in focus

Gaining hands-on experience and building a career vision

Steerprop Selected to Provide Comprehensive Propulsion Systems for World's Largest Cable-Laying Vessel

Steerprop appoints experienced maritime professional as new Production Director

Steerprop Selected to Supply Main Propulsion and Tunnel Thrusters for Canadian Coast Guard Multi-Purpose Vessels Program