A fixed-pitch propeller is cheaper and 2 to 5 percent more efficient at its design point, while a controllable-pitch propeller keeps the engine at constant speed and delivers better astern thrust. In 2025-2026 the CPP has become the spine of hybrid cargo ships and the object of consolidation, with Kongsberg Maritime acquiring Berg Propulsion.
What it is and how it works
A fixed-pitch propeller (FPP) is a single casting optimised for one design point. A controllable-pitch propeller (CPP) carries a hydraulic hub that rotates the blades, so the engine can run at constant speed while thrust is set by blade angle. The FPP's smaller hub produces less drag and gives roughly 2 to 4 percent higher propulsive efficiency at full sea speed, according to Normanship; other sources put the CPP penalty at 2 to 3 percent or 3 to 5 percent, per Navlib. FPPs show a notable drop in efficiency astern, whereas the CPP delivers far better astern thrust and suits frequent manoeuvring, notes Virtue Marine. That split explains the fleet: FPPs dominate deep-sea merchant ships, while CPPs dominate ferries, tugs, offshore, naval and short-sea cargo ships.
Why it matters now
The CPP's value in 2025-2026 is systemic rather than hydrodynamic. A constant-speed shaft is what makes PTO/PTI shaft generators, DC-hub battery hybrids and future fuel-flexible engines work together, which is why every Wärtsilä hybrid cargo-ship package cited below is CPP-based. The hydrodynamic headroom on the CPP itself is small: Brunvoll notes that CPP blade optimisation alone typically yields under 1 percent, against more than 10 percent for contra-rotating arrangements. The CPP also carries a cost premium and hub complexity, although no source quantifying that premium in currency or percentage terms was found.
Key players and products
Kongsberg Maritime (Kamewa and Promas, plus the C-Line range), Wärtsilä, MAN Energy Solutions' MAN Alpha and Berg Propulsion are the four major Western CPP houses. Kongsberg's Promas integrated CPP-and-rudder-bulb was specified as twin CPP for patrol-speed efficiency on two Indonesian Navy KCR-70 fast attack craft alongside a single Kamewa waterjet booster. MAN Alpha CPPs equip the Indian Navy's HSL-class fleet support ships, and Hindustan Shipyard signed a further contract for five main propulsion systems on 15 April 2025, per Wikipedia, which also carries a single-source claim that MAN Energy Solutions rebranded as Everllence in June 2025. Berg Propulsion, a Swedish house that evolved from a propeller maker into a developer of integrated systems centred on CPP technology, reported revenue of about EUR 160 million in 2025, according to Berg Propulsion.
Figures that matter
Aggregator estimates of the CPP market diverge twenty-fold, from USD 224 million to USD 4.25 billion for 2025, and should not be relied on. No sourced figure for the CPP capital-cost premium over FPP, or for the global FPP/CPP newbuild split by vessel count or power, was found.
| Metric | Value | Source type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| FPP efficiency advantage at full sea speed | 2-4% | trade-press | Normanship |
| Alternative estimates of CPP penalty | 2-3% and 3-5% | trade-press | Westmekan, Navlib |
| Gain from CPP blade optimisation | under 1% | vendor | Brunvoll |
| Gain from contra-rotating arrangement | more than 10% | vendor | Brunvoll |
| Berg Propulsion revenue 2025 | about EUR 160 million | vendor | Berg Propulsion |
| CPP market 2025 (aggregator spread) | USD 224 million to 4.25 billion | aggregator | OpenPR, Dataintelo |
| Aasen bulker battery alongside CPP | 620 kWh | vendor | Wärtsilä |
| MAN Alpha systems ordered, April 2025 | 5 | aggregator | Wikipedia |
Developments 2023-2026
- Mid-2026: Kongsberg Maritime agreed to acquire Berg Propulsion, to be run as a standalone brand within its Propulsion & Handling division; the companies say the combination will offer the most comprehensive commercial propeller ranges in the market.
- 7 July 2026: Wärtsilä propulsion was selected for Grimaldi Group's major newbuild programme; for the Finnlines vessels the scope includes two CPPs with shaft lines, gearboxes, a hybrid-electric system and ProTouch remote control.
- June 2025: four 10,700 dwt Vertom tween-deckers at Chowgule Shipyards get Wärtsilä 25 engines, a hybrid drivetrain and CPP, with deliveries in 2027-2028, per Wärtsilä.
- November 2025: Aasen Shipping placed a repeat order for a gearbox, CPP, shaft line, DC hub and 620 kWh battery on a 9,500 dwt bulker at Royal Bodewes, part of a six-ship series whose first three were booked in September 2023.
- 15 April 2025: Hindustan Shipyard contracted MAN Energy Solutions for five MAN Alpha main propulsion systems for HSL-class fleet support ships.
Outlook
The Kongsberg-Berg deal consolidates two of the four Western CPP suppliers, leaving Wärtsilä, MAN Alpha, Schottel and Asian makers as the main alternatives. No feathering or hybrid-specific CPP hub launch surfaced in 2025-2026, so the near-term story is system packaging rather than new hydrodynamics.
