Steerprop to Supply Its Largest-Ever Ducted Propulsion Units for New Jan De Nul Rock Installation Vessel

Finnish propulsion specialist Steerprop has secured a major contract to deliver a complete propulsion package—featuring the largest ducted propulsors ever built by the company—for Jan De Nul’s new rock installation vessel, the George W. Goethals.

The vessel will be the third rock installation vessel above 30,000 tonnes in Jan De Nul’s fleet and is designed for demanding offshore energy operations, including placing rock to protect subsea cables. With a capacity of up to 37,000 tonnes, the vessel requires a propulsion system that combines high power, reliability, transit efficiency and precise manoeuvrability for installation work.

According to Juho Rekola, Director of Sales & Project Management at Steerprop, the project highlights the company’s expertise in advanced propulsion engineering. “When propulsion demand pushes the limits of engineering, that’s where Steerprop excels. We’re proud to once again meet Jan De Nul’s high standards and support the shipyard with our deep integration expertise,” he said.

The propulsion package includes two mechanical azimuth Steerprop Pushing Propulsors, each delivering over 3 MW of power. Equipped with ducted propellers measuring 3.6 metres in diameter, they are built for maximum thrust and durability under heavy operational loads—representing the largest ducted units ever produced by Steerprop. The package also includes two Steerprop Tunnel Thrusters and two Steerprop Retractable Thrusters, ensuring precise manoeuvrability across all operating conditions.

This contract builds on the long-standing collaboration between Steerprop and Jan De Nul, which previously selected full Steerprop propulsion systems for its two largest advanced cable-laying vessels.

Jan Van de Velde, Director Newbuilding at Jan De Nul, said the new vessel underscores the company’s commitment to technical excellence: “Our decades of experience in subsea rock installation have enabled us to design this vessel entirely in-house. Partnering again with Steerprop ensures robust and efficient propulsion performance tailored to our offshore energy projects.”