Steerprop will supply two contra-rotating propeller (CRP) units for a fully electric passenger ferry being built by CRIST SA for the Estonian State Fleet.
Designed by LMG Marin, the 95-metre vessel will be the first in Estonia to use fully electric propulsion for passenger ferry operations. It will feature Steerprop’s next-generation CRP technology, incorporating permanent magnet motor drives and design changes intended to improve mechanical efficiency and thrust performance.
The propulsion system was selected for its ability to deliver high thrust in ice, wind and open-water conditions, despite restrictions on propeller diameter. Steerprop’s CRP configuration uses two propellers rotating in opposite directions on a single shaftline, allowing it to provide greater thrust and efficiency than similarly sized single-propeller units.
The latest generation of the technology introduces pressure lubrication as standard for smaller CRP applications, replacing immersion lubrication to reduce mechanical losses. According to Steerprop, this change increases mechanical efficiency by approximately 3.5 percentage points.
The propulsion units are designed for use with diesel, hybrid and fully electric drivetrains. Steerprop said the system’s performance in ice was a factor in its selection for the Estonian ferry project.
Steerprop Cruise & Ferry Segment Director Markku Miinala said:The latest Steerprop CRP development has resulted in a propulsor with unique efficiency and thrust performance, and one that offers an even greater performance boost for vessels operating in ice conditions. Steerprop is pleased to widen its installed base in Estonia, where we already operate four double-ended ferries with Steerprop CRP propulsors on the Saaremaa and Hiiumaa routes.
Steerprop already supplies CRP propulsion systems to four double-ended ferries operating on Estonia’s Saaremaa and Hiiumaa routes.
The new ferry will use renewable electricity supplied from shore, stored in a 3MWh battery system. Auxiliary biodiesel generators will provide additional power during severe weather and emergency operations.
The vessel will be built to Ice Class 1B, allowing it to operate in ice up to 60cm thick. Its propulsion system is intended to support operations in both icy waters and open seas.
Steerprop’s propulsion equipment is scheduled for delivery in late 2027, with the ferry expected to enter service in late 2028.
The design and construction contract is valued at 49.93 million EUR. The project is co-funded by the European Union’s Modernisation Fund, which is contributing 28 million EUR, and Estonia’s CO₂ quota trading mechanisms.
