Steering and propulsion arrangement for ship

A large ship having a hull with a narrow wedge-like bow and the broadest part of the underwater hull being located amidships, and the length of the ship being about 100 meters or more, so that the ship is suited for transoceanic traffic, said ship being provided with a steering and propulsion arrangement comprising a number of propulsion devices situated partly at the rear and partly at the forebody of the ship, wherein the forebody of the ship is provided with one or more steerable rudder propeller devices, which are arranged and dimensioned so as to substantially provide the steering and control of the ship and to produce a part of the propulsive force pushing the ship forward at least substantially within all speed ranges such that in so-called harbour manoeuvering they can cover, as needed, at least about 20% of the ship's total propulsive power and when steering ahead in sea traffic they cover preferably at most about 10% of the ship's total propulsive power, said steerable rudder propeller devices being additionally arranged so that they do not extend, at least not significantly, below the base line of the ship.