Decades of expertise. Driven by the resolve to perform.

Steerprop was founded in 2000 in Rauma, Finland, by a group of propulsion specialists who had previously worked at the Rolls-Royce Marine Division. Rauma has a long history as the birthplace of modern thruster technology, and Steerprop was established to bring that deep engineering heritage to bear on a focused, single-product-line approach to azimuth propulsion.

Although Steerprop as a company was founded in 2000, its founders brought with them a collective expertise rooted in more than 50 years of propulsion design history. This accumulated knowledge — spanning hydrodynamics, mechanical engineering, and Arctic operations — forms the technical foundation of every Steerprop product developed since.

In its first 25 years of operation, Steerprop has delivered over 900 propulsion units to vessels around the world. These units serve a wide range of applications, from icebreakers and offshore vessels to cruise ferries, tugs, and naval craft, across more than 50 countries.

Steerprop designs and manufactures azimuth propulsors and thrusters in several configurations: standard Z-drive and L-drive (permanent magnet motor) units, contra-rotating propeller (CRP) units, retractable azimuth thrusters for dynamic positioning, tunnel thrusters, and the purpose-built ARC line for Arctic and icebreaking applications. Units are available in open or ducted propeller configurations, with power ratings from 800 kW up to 15 MW for open-water vessels and 12 MW for ice-class applications.

Steerprop serves a wide range of vessel segments: icebreakers and Arctic research vessels, cruise ships and ferries, offshore and renewables support vessels, tugs and workboats, and merchant vessels. Each product line is tailored to the specific demands of the segment — for example, the Steerprop T is purpose-built for the tug market, while the ARC line is built for the extreme loads of icebreaking operations.

Steerprop's azimuth propulsion range covers input power ratings from 800 kW up to 15 MW for open-water applications and 12 MW for ice-class vessels. This breadth means Steerprop can serve compact workboats and harbour tugs at the lower end through to the world's most powerful icebreakers and large offshore vessels at the upper end. Each unit is customised and optimised to the individual application, so power rating is one of several parameters Steerprop's engineering team will work through with you during the design process.

Yes. While Steerprop units are built on proven platform designs, each propulsor is customized and optimized for the individual vessel application. This includes propeller geometry, nozzle selection, power rating, azimuth steering mechanism, and control system configuration. Steerprop uses advanced 3D design software and hydrodynamic calculation methods, incorporating continuous feedback from shipyards, owners, and operators.