At first glance a possibly offbeat choice as the venue for the tech visit at the 2026 Propulsion & Future Fuels Conference, but the Stettin steam icebreaker offers a fascinating look back at the evolution of maritime engineering, and its history.
Now moored in the picturesque Oevelgönne Museum Harbour in Hamburg, the Stettin was built back in 1933 by the city of the same name (now Szczecin) which was dependent on the free passage of shipping from the Baltic so required ice-free channels throughout winter.
Though its distinctive Runeberg-bow design, with its sharp cutting edge, is eye-catching, Stettin’s real interest lies below in its 2,200 hp triple-expansion steam engine and impressive fire-tube boilers.
While diesel engines were widely available in 1933, steam engines could be more rapidly reversed, an important capability for icebreakers during manoeuvres in icy sea conditions to free the ship if it were to get stuck.
The technical visit – on December 10 – will also demonstrate how even an historic steamship can benefit from modern digitalization, combining traditional maritime engineering with advanced sensors, data acquisition systems, and cloud-based access to operational information.
All in all, a memorable sign-off after two-days of networking and a detailed focus on shipping’s energy transition.
The 47th Propulsion & Future Fuels Conference is being held 8-10 December at the Empire Riverside Hotel, Hamburg. To benefit from the opportunities of offer – as well as the Stettin visit – just click here
