TKMS, one of the world’s leading naval companies, has signed contracts with three suppliers on behalf of the Alfred Wegener Institute for the procurement of innovative propulsion technology for the new Polarstern.
The project aims to deploy cutting-edge systems that enable particularly low-noise, low-emission research at sea and in the polar regions. With these agreements, the first project milestone has been reached on schedule.
TKMS has signed contracts with three suppliers on behalf of the Alfred Wegener Institute for the procurement of innovative propulsion technology for the new Polarstern. The aim is to use cutting-edge technology that enables particularly low-noise and low-emission research at sea and in the polar regions. The first project milestone has thus been reached on schedule.
CEO Oliver Burkhard emphasizes the significance of this milestone for TKMS: “With the selection of the complex propulsion system for the new Polarstern, we are ensuring that we meet our customers’ high requirements for reliability, environmental protection, and sustainability.”
Four generator sets from Wärtsilä were selected for energy generation. Two of these engines are dual-fuel capable, meaning they can run on methanol as well as conventional diesel. To complement the sustainable energy supply and enable completely emission-free research operations, a complex battery system will be integrated into the new Polarstern. A highly effective diesel particulate filter cleans the exhaust gases produced during diesel operation before they are treated in a Wärtsilä SCR catalytic converter.
Two rudder propellers from the Finnish company Steerprop and a fixed central propulsion system from the Finnish manufacturer Aker Arctic are used as the drive system. The entire propulsion system is designed to meet the highest climate and environmental protection requirements.
Prof. Dr. Maarten Boersma, acting director of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), emphasizes: “We are very pleased that an important first step on the way to the new Polarstern has been achieved with the order of the propulsion unit. I am particularly impressed by the long-term coordination of all production phases. While the plan foresees the first welds on the ship starting in April 2027, construction of innovative machinery must of course start in parallel. It’s great to see the construction project and cooperation between AWI, TKMS, and suppliers progressing as planned.”
Since the beginning of the year, parts of the shipyard in Wismar have been gradually upgraded for TKMS’s product portfolio. “Over the next few years, we will be investing a low three-digit million euro amount in the Wismar site and preparing the shipyard for production, including the new Polarstern. At TKMS, we are making all the necessary preparations to successfully complete this project on time and within budget,” explains Oliver Burkhard. The handover of the Polarstern to the Alfred Wegener Institute research community is planned for 2030.
TKMS is in a strong financial position, has international experience, and is recording a positive order trend. At the end of 2024, the company received an order for four additional submarines from Germany, while the recent signing of a contract for two more submarines from Singapore further strengthened its position in the international market. These successes have increased the order book (as of June 30, 2025) to €18.5 billion.
Technical data on the Polarstern propulsion system
– Total output of W31 four-stroke generator sets: 33.1 MWe
– Storage capacity of battery system: approx. 12.4 kWh
– Output of SCR catalytic converter (selective catalytic reduction):
– Conversion of up to 90% of climate-damaging nitrogen oxide emissions into elemental nitrogen and water
– Diameter of rudder propeller (Azimuth propellers SP 160 PULL ARC LM): 4.8 m
– Diameter of center propeller: 5.4 m
