Kongsberg Maritime has entered into an agreement to acquire Steerprop, a Finnish designer and manufacturer of azimuth propulsion systems specialising in high ice-class and Arctic vessels. Steerprop has established a leading position in Arctic propulsion, supplying systems for icebreakers, polar research vessels, offshore support vessels and other demanding applications, with an installed base of more than 400 vessels globally and a significant order backlog, the majority of which is linked to Arctic and ice-class projects. The acquisition brings together Steerprop’s specialised Arctic propulsion expertise with Kongsberg Maritime’s global organisation, lifecycle services network, systems integration capabilities and scale, strengthening Kongsberg Maritime’s position in a segment where demand is being driven by fleet renewal programmes, polar research investments and increasing activity in Arctic regions. Lisa Edvardsen Haugan, CEO of Kongsberg Maritime, described the acquisition as a strategic step in a growing market segment, combining complementary strengths to create additional value for customers. Ville Rimpilä, Senior Vice President for Thruster Systems at Kongsberg Maritime, highlighted Steerprop’s strong technology, customer relationships and market leadership as assets that, combined with Kongsberg Maritime’s global reach and integrated solutions portfolio, create a compelling proposition in a strategically important market. Both companies will continue to operate independently until the transaction is completed, with existing projects, deliveries and contractual commitments remaining unchanged and customer continuity as the highest priority throughout the process. The post Kongsberg Maritime to strengthen Arctic and ice-class propulsion capabilities appeared first on Container News .