Tevo Oy in Finland says it has developed a bronze propeller to meet Finnish-Swedish ice class 1 A Super or Polar Code 6 requirements as a cost effective alternative to steel propellers.

The company has carried out tests of the product in the Gulf of Bothnia, where pack ice banks up to seven metres and sea ice of 80 cm in thickness was encountered. The tests showed that the propeller cold exceed 1 A Super ice class load requirements.

The company said the propeller it has developed suits retrofits as well as newbuildings.