Propulsion has been selected for a series of Polar-class emergency response and security vessels being built in Canada
Seaspan Shipyards is building six multipurpose ice-breaking vessels designed by Aker Arctic for the Canadian Coast Guard as part of the national shipbuilding strategy to operate in Canadian waters.
It has contracted Steerprop to provide Polar Class 4 (PC 4) propulsion packages for these newbuild vessels, including two contra-rotating propulsors (CRP) for main propulsion and two tunnel thrusters for auxiliary manoeuvring for each ship.
These will be designed, engineered and manufactured to meet the stringent operational demands of the vessels in Arctic waters and along the seaboards of Canada.
CRP units facilitate efficient ice management, which is important for maintaining safe navigation channels and responding to emergencies in icy conditions, while reducing energy consumption and emissions.
“We awarded this mission-critical propulsion system contract to enable the Canadian Coast Guard to safely and efficiently operate these multipurpose vessels across the wide range of environmental conditions encountered in Canadian waters,” said Seaspan Shipyards senior programme director for these vessels, David Belton.
Steerprop will establish a permanent presence in Canada and expand its operations across North America following this contract, said Steerprop director of sales and project management Juho Rekola.
“This project exemplifies our resolve to support our customers in enhancing vessel performance and environmental friendliness without compromising on stringent requirements for operational availability,” he said.
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