A yacht being built for a private owner will be the first ever vessel to be equipped with Steerprop’s smallest contra-rotating propeller (CRP) azimuth propulsors to date. The order marks the Finnish marine propulsion expert’s first yacht project.
The yacht will be fitted with two 700 kW Steerprop SP 8 CRP propulsors, which deliver outstanding thrust relative to power input. This high efficiency enables the installation of smaller propulsor units than would be needed for single-propeller systems in order to generate the same thrust, making them particularly well suited to space-constrained applications such as yachts.
An undisclosed yard will build the yacht for a private owner. Steerprop worked closely with the yachtbuilder to develop a propulsion solution that meets the owner’s performance requirements while offering strong lifecycle value.
Steerprop CRP propulsors of larger dimensions have been widely used in demanding Arctic and offshore applications for more than two decades. Steerprop’s design and engineering expertise means that it has been able to scale down the design, opening up the benefits of CRP to a wide range of applications including tugboats, river cruise vessels and ferries as well as leisure yachts.
Markku Miinala, Director of the Cruise & Ferry Segment at Steerprop, said:
Achieving the highest possible thrust within the very tight space constraints of a yacht design was a decisive factor in securing this contract. Our selection is a welcome introduction to the yacht market and a strong endorsement of Steerprop CRP’s suitability for this growing segment.
Steerprop’s CRP has a unique pedigree in the azimuthing propulsor market, with the first unit sold 25 years ago for the river cruise vessel River Aria. With the introduction of smaller CRP sizes, its long-proven advantages are now available to vessels with lower installed power, but where maximum thrust and efficiency—alongside a compact installation—remain critical design drivers.
The Steerprop SP 8 propulsor incorporates the latest developments in Steerprop’s long-standing proprietary CRP technology, including a permanent magnet drive and pressure lubrication, reducing mechanical losses and further improving overall efficiency.
