Steerprop and Seaspan expand collaboration on Canada’s next-gen polar icebreaker

September 18, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

Finnish propulsion provider Steerprop and Canadian Seaspan Shipyards have expanded their collaboration on Canada’s next-generation polar icebreaker.

Initially selected in late 2023 to supply two ice-classed bow thrusters for the new flagship vessel, Steerprop will now also support the integration of the tunnel thruster into the vessel.

As part of the expanded collaboration, the companies have co-developed structural enhancements to the tunnel entrances, including customized roundings and tunnel extensions, to further improve flow characteristics and thruster effectiveness. Steerprop has now been entrusted with engineering and manufacturing this solution.

According to the company, the tunnel thrusters will be essential to the icebreaker’s ability to carry out year-round missions in some of the world’s most demanding waters, supporting emergency response, scientific research, and vital services for Arctic communities.

In addition, their optimized hydrodynamic and technical design will enable prolonged, energy-efficient dynamic positioning (DP) operations to further enhance the vessel’s capability and operational endurance in harsh environments.

“Tunnel thrusters are often overlooked compared to main propulsion, but in Arctic operations, their reliability and performance are mission-critical. Steerprop ensures they’re treated with the same engineering precision,” said Juho Rekola, Director, Sales & Project Management, Steerprop.

“We are pleased to expand our work with Steerprop as we continue to advance the design and construction of this critical vessel,” said Norman Hannaford, Senior Program Director – Polar, Seaspan Shipyards.

“Their expertise in Arctic-capable thruster systems supports our goal of delivering a ship that will perform reliably in some of the world’s most extreme maritime environments—helping safeguard Canadian sovereignty and deliver services to Northern communities.”

Steerprop’s original delivery scope also includes a bridge control system and an offline oil filtering unit.

To remind, the company was also chosen to provide a comprehensive Polar-class 4 (PC 4) propulsion package for the Canadian Coast Guard’s multi-purpose vessels (MPVs).