Diesel-Electric Marine Propulsion on the Icebreaker Sampo

The Diesel-Electric Engine Room of the Icebreaker Sampo. It was built in 1961 to keep Finnish Ports accessible in Winter, and today is used for Tourist Cruises in Kemi. Sampo has four Wärtsilä-Sulzer Two Stroke Diesel Engines, that drive large DC Generators. The Generators then power Electric Motors, that turn the Propeller Shafts. Diesel-Electric Propulsion makes it more manouverable, as Electric Motors are reversed by just reversing Polarity. This is much easier and quicker than reversing a Diesel Engine, which would need to be stopped first and then re-started in the other Direction. Quick reversing is important for Icebreakers, as thick Ice is broken by repeatedly ramming and reversing off it. Russian Nuclear Icebreakers use Turbo-Electric Propulsion for the same Reason.

Today, Sampo is owned and operated by @KemiTourismLtd Special Thanks for allowing me to make this Video, usually Passengers can visit the Engine Room in Guided Tours only, and can only peak at the Top of the Main Engines while the lower Areas of the Engine Room are off-Limits.

00:00 Introduction
02:47 Diesel Engines
07:24 Main Generators
09:24 Propeller Motors
12:22 Auxilary Machinery