en.Wedoany.com Reported - Turkish shipbuilding group Med Marine has placed a repeat order with Finnish marine propulsion specialist Steerprop for two Steerprop SP 175 T thrusters for the third vessel in its series of tugboats.

The scope of supply for this order is similar to the contracts for the previous two vessels. These two vessels, which entered service in 2024, were the first to be equipped with Steerprop's T-series thrusters, a series custom-designed for the tugboat market, balancing high performance and cost control. The thrusters ordered this time will be installed on RAscal 2100-Z series harbor tugs designed by Robert Allan Ltd., with the operator yet to be determined.

This propulsion design meets the demands of tugboat operators for thrust, efficiency, flexibility, and reliability, while also accommodating shipyard integration needs through a modular and scalable design. Steerprop stated that validation by Med Marine, which owns both a tugboat fleet and a shipyard, is a strong endorsement of this solution.

Kimmo Lainio, Sales Manager for Tugs and Workboats at Steerprop, noted that the T-series meets the demand in the tugboat sector for powerful, maneuverable propulsion systems that can be cost-effectively deployed across multiple compact, high-performance vessels. After two years of successful operation of the two predecessor vessels, a repeat order from one of the world's leading tugboat builders demonstrates the strength of this concept.

Steerprop's T-series thrusters combine the company's expertise in designing purpose-specific propulsion systems with the competitive capital and lifecycle costs required by tugboat builders and operators. The size and power configuration of the thrusters result from close collaboration among Robert Allan Ltd., Med Marine, and Steerprop, indicating that customized propulsion solutions can hold an advantage even in a cost-competitive market.

These robust and efficient thrusters are suitable for various configurations and operating modes, matching mechanical, hybrid, or electric prime movers while maximizing available bollard pull. The two propulsion units for the new vessel will be equipped with ducted propellers with a diameter of 1.80 meters, each providing 1,080 kW of thrust, for a total bollard pull of 35 tons.

The scope of supply also includes a wheelhouse control system, featuring Steerprop's adjustable and ergonomically designed joystick system.

Delivery of the propulsion units and control system is scheduled for February 2027.