for main propulsion, "sankt-peterburg" is fitted with two electrically driven azimuth thrusters. the stainless steel propellers of her pushing-type steerprop spo4.5arc z-drive units are each driven by two electric motors in tandem, resulting in a combined propulsion power output of about . this is enough to give "sankt-peterburg" a service speed of in open water and allow breaking level ice with a snow cover at a continuous speed of in line with her ice class. while the azimuthing propulsion units improve the maneuverability of the icebreaker, she is also fitted with a single transverse bow thruster.