Page 62: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2015)

WORKBOAT ANNUAL

PROPULSION

Steerprop

Finland-based Steerprop is an expert in Z-Drive technology for arguably the most demanding situation on the water- front: Arctic operatons. Kari Kyyrö, Naval Architect, Steer- prop Ltd., shares insights on his company’s penetration – courtesy of U.S. partner Karl Senner Inc. – into the

U.S. inland waterways system.

By Greg Trauthwein

Kari Kyyrö,

Naval Architect,

Steerprop Ltd.

teerprop was created in 2000, draft limitations on the inland waterways of 20+ MW per unit.” When it comes to forward thrust.” As anyone in maritime and according to Kyyrö the systems, the Steerprop units best suited operating on inland waterways and fac- knows “ruggedized” comes with a price, company is in a good situation, for this application will be in units at ing down the challenges found within, but Kyyrö contends that if owners evalu-

Swith a employee base that are the lower end of its power range spec- Kyyrö said that Steerprop is well versed ate not just the initial CapEx, rather the highly skilled and motivated. The com- trum, speci? cation its types SP10, SP14, in handling various types and sizes of overall lifecycle costs, his company will pany is a specialist in providing its pro- SP20 and SP25, with open or ducted impact from debris. “At Steerprop we always be in the conversation. pulsion systems for the most rigorous propellers. “For instance, the biggest are very familiar with dimensioning “With our robust units, we can offer

Arctic conditions, and this year a special “line boats” in the U.S. might have three against impact, thanks to one of our big- scheduled overhauls instead of ‘repair- emphasis is on allocating resources to SP25D units (“D” = ducted) with a to- gest strengths: experience in ice classed ing when it breaks,’” said Kyyrö. “If growing and improving the after-sales tal propulsive power of around 4500 kW units. We are used to building our prod- something does brake down, our spare service business, said Kyyrö. “We will (6000 hp),” Kyyrö said. “In river use, ucts robust,” he said. “In ducted units, we part and maintenance service functions continue to strengthen our organization our smallest units (SP10) start at around can offer our high ef? ciency HJ3 nozzle. well. In the U.S., our representative Karl and to further improve our strengths: re- 600 kW per unit. The biggest mechani- Compared to a conventional 19A-type Senner, LLC takes good care of this.” In liable, ef? cient, environmentally friend- cal azimuthing units in the world are nozzle geometry, the HJ3 gives 5% to order to minimize breakdowns, Steer- ly propulsion systems for demanding built by Steerprop for arctic vessels (six 6% more thrust in bollard and offers an prop units are equipped with a condition offshore applications, ice going vessels units with 9 MW each). In our CRP ECO even more signi? cant ef? ciency increase monitoring system. This can be connect- as well as passenger and cruise ships.” range (with Dual-End Contra-Rotating at speed, where the conventional nozzle ed to the Steerprop service center with

Accord to Kyyrö based on the strict Propellers) we can offer power levels quickly starts to cause drag instead of an online solution. 62 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • NOVEMBER 2015

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