Kongsberg Maritime (KM) has signed a new contract with the design, development, engineering and consulting company Aker Arctic Technology which will see KM supplying propellers and shafts for four newbuild SQ2020 corvette ships.
The process originated in September 2019 when the Finnish Defence Forces Logictics Command contracted Aker Arctic to design and deliver full shaftline system to SQ2020 corvettes and the Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) yard in Finland to build the vessels. KM’s delivery will consist of controllable pitch propellers and shafts for the four vessels: each corvette will be equipped with two propellers, with the propeller blades, hubs and shafts.
KM’s CP propellers are available in ice-class, nozzle and open-water variants, with either four or five blades of high skew, moderate skew, nozzle or conventional types. With a highly efficient blade foot and blade bearing design calculated to avoid peak pressures and mitigate exposure to cavitation, Kongsberg’s Kamewa CP-A propeller system offers a 20% improvement in the power-to-weight ratio over its precursor. The new controllable pitch hub shape cuts down on drag, with sizes to suit power outputs ranging from approximately 500kW to 75MW.
Kari Laukia, Head of Equipment Business, Aker Arctic, said: “Kongsberg Maritime’s reputation for first-rate reliability, efficiency, build quality and cost-effectiveness swung the discussion in their favour when it came to sourcing CP-propeller systems for the new corvettes. We can look forward to the vessels emerging from the RMC shipyard in complete confidence, knowing we’ve selected the best equipment for us to do the job.”
Niclas Dia, KM Area Sales Manager, said: “We’re extremely proud to be a part of such an important project. Much will be demanded of the corvettes throughout their operational life, so the trust that has been shown in the high-performing dependability of our CPP systems is a real accolade.”
