The tailor-made solution supports the vessel’s demanding scientific mission in fragile polar environments and ensures high performance through cutting-edge predictive maintenance and proven ice-class technology—now scaled for unprecedented capability.
TKMS will build the new Polarstern for the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) and has selected the Finnish propulsion specialist Steerprop to supply the azimuth propulsion system for the new Polarstern, Germany’s next-generation polar research icebreaker. Steerprop’s solution was chosen for its exceptional reliability, ultra-low underwater radiated noise (URN), and advanced predictive maintenance capabilities—all vital to the success of long-term, uninterrupted polar missions in fragile ecosystems. In addition to these technical features, Steerprop’s unmatched propulsion expertise and proven ability to support complex, demanding vessel designs made it the clear choice. Steerprop’s polar track record—with azimuth propulsors on every third icebreaker in service in the world and without a single major overhaul in more than 15 years, also gave TKMS and AWI the confidence they needed.
Due to enter service in 2030, the new Polarstern will operate for up to 310 days a year in the Arctic and Antarctic, requiring a propulsion solution that supports extreme endurance, energy efficiency, and acoustic sensitivity. Built to Ice Class PC2, the vessel will be powered by two Steerprop SP 160 PULL ARC azimuth propulsors, the largest mechanical units of their kind ever built, each delivering 9 MW of power through a 4.8-meter diameter propeller. The specifications require holding a steady 3 knots through multiyear ice of up to 1.8 metres thick with 20 % snow cover.
– For a vessel of this importance, technical performance alone isn’t enough, said Riku-Pekka Hägg, CEO, Steerprop.
– We’re proud to deliver a propulsion solution that ensures mission success while minimizing environmental impact, maximizing uptime, and optimizing total cost of ownership over the vessels’s lifetime.
Proven technology, scaled for new demands
While the SP 160 PULL ARC units represent a record in size, they are based on Steerprop’s well-proven mechanical propulsor platform, used widely in the icebreaking fleet. The thrusters are engineered for harsh ice conditions, offering mechanical dependability with modern automation for precise control in both icebreaking and station-keeping operations.
