Global Waterjet Propulsion Unit Market 2026 by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2032

According to our (Global Info Research) latest study, the global Waterjet Propulsion Unit market size was valued at US$ 243 million in 2025 and is forecast to a readjusted size of US$ 372 million by 2032 with a CAGR of 6.2% during review period.
Waterjet propulsion units, as the core propulsion method for modern high-speed vessels, shallow-water vessels, and highly maneuverable official/work vessels, offer the value of solving problems associated with traditional propeller propulsion in shallow draft, high-speed navigation, frequent docking and undocking, and close-to-person operations. These problems include easy damage to the propeller, strict draft restrictions, high wake noise and vibration, poor low-speed maneuverability, and insufficient safety for personnel and floating objects. In traditional open-blade propulsion arrangements, the propeller and rudder system protrude from the hull, making them prone to scraping/entanglement in shallow water, near reefs, floating objects, or near-shore operations. Furthermore, the impact on the shaft system and gearbox is significant when reversing rapidly with high thrust. In contrast, waterjet propulsion draws in the flow from the hull bottom through a closed pump body, pressurizes it, and then ejects it through a nozzle. The jet propulsion provides thrust through the reaction force of the jet. Combined with deflectable rudders and thrust reversers, it achieves precise control over the direction and magnitude of the thrust. With almost no protruding rotating parts on the hull, it significantly improves shallow-water safety and high-speed maneuverability. For high-speed passenger ships, patrol boats, rescue boats, and offshore wind power maintenance vessels, waterjet propulsion units can provide controllable thrust near zero speed, achieving "point-to-point" positioning, "lateral translation," and extremely short braking distances. They also maintain high propulsion efficiency at high speeds (30–45 knots or even higher). Therefore, they are gradually replacing traditional propeller propulsion in ship types requiring high speed, shallow water, high maneuverability, and personnel proximity to the water surface, becoming a key alternative in propulsion system solutions. In 2025, approximately 4,300 new waterjet propulsion units were installed globally in new shipbuilding and major retrofit projects, with an average unit price of USD 54,950 and a gross profit margin of approximately 24%–32%. Typical structures include an intake section and inlet grille, centrifugal or mixed-flow pump impeller and pump casing, nozzles and deflectable guide vanes, a thrust reverser system (bucket or split-type thrust reverser), drive shaft and coupling, shaft seals and bearings, hydraulic actuators, and an electrical control unit that works in conjunction with the propulsion control system. General parameters include compatible main engine power from 500 kW to 5 MW (single unit), design speed of 25–50 knots, pump impeller diameter of 300–1,200 mm, jet flow rate of 3–25 m³/s, and materials primarily stainless steel or high-strength aluminum alloy. Suitable drafts are typically less than 1.5 m. Typical usage: a 20–35 m high-speed rescue/patrol boat is typically equipped with two medium-power waterjet propulsion units; a 40–60 m high-speed passenger ship or offshore wind power maintenance vessel typically uses two to three high-power units; some special-purpose vessels and military high-speed boats may use four units with multiple nozzles. The upstream components consist of alloy steel shafting for marine diesel engines or electric motors, stainless steel/aluminum alloy castings and welded structural parts, seawater-resistant bearings and seals, hydraulic actuators and electrical control components. The cost of core raw materials and components accounts for approximately 52%–63% of the total cost of the propulsion unit.
Supply Situation
Upstream components include stainless steel or high-strength aluminum alloy castings and forgings for pump impellers and housings, alloy steel for bolts and fasteners, marine bearings and shaft seals (rubber/composite materials), hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic power units, control valves and solenoid valves, electrical control unit PCBs, and industrial connectors. Raw material and machining costs account for approximately 52%–63% of the total cost of a waterjet propulsion unit. Price fluctuations in stainless steel/aluminum alloy castings and forgings, and bearings/seals have the greatest impact on costs. Key suppliers include Outokumpu, Hydro/Alcoa, SKF, Trelleborg, and Parker Hannifin.
Manufacturer Characteristics
HamiltonJet boasts a wide global reach and leading installed base in the high-speed passenger ship, patrol boat, and rescue boat markets; Marine Jet Power is highly competitive in the offshore wind power maintenance vessel and high-end workboat segments; Kongsberg and SCHOTTEL have secured a place in offshore engineering vessel and large high-speed workboat projects with their integrated solutions of "propulsion equipment + propulsion control + power system"; Castoldi, Alamarin-Jet, and Doen WaterJets have cultivated the small and medium-sized high-speed boat and yacht markets for many years, exhibiting significant regional advantages.
Examples
Wärtsilä, with its comprehensive range of waterjet propulsion systems, has extensive application cases in the roll-on/roll-off fast ferry sector. The four MEKO A-200 SAN light frigates delivered to the South African Navy by the German shipyards Blohm & Voss and HDV employed a CODAG WARP (diesel-gas turbine combined waterjet propulsion and precision propeller) system. This system consisted of two diesel engines equipped with adjustable-pitch propellers and a 20 MW centerline gas turbine driving a Lips 210E waterjet propulsion unit. These waterjet propulsion units, equipped with a 2.8-meter diameter six-bladed impeller and a 2.1-meter air intake, were the largest waterjet propulsion units ever built and the first of their kind used on a naval vessel of this size (121 meters long/3500 tons displacement).
Applications
Waterjet propulsion units are primarily used in the construction and propulsion system retrofitting of high-speed passenger ships and ro-ro ships, high-speed ferries, law enforcement patrol boats, coast guard and customs vessels, search and rescue and fireboats, offshore wind power maintenance vessels, near-shore operation and service vessels, high-end yachts, and military high-speed boats. They are key equipment replacing traditional propeller propulsion under high-speed, shallow-water, and high-maneuverability requirements. Typical downstream customers include shipbuilding companies specializing in high-speed and special-purpose vessels such as Incat, Damen, Austal, Umoe Mandal, and Navantia, as well as coast guard/maritime and wind power bidding project operators and high-speed passenger transport companies in various countries.
Technological Trends
Technological upgrades are concentrated in four areas: First, efficient hydraulic design and cavitation-resistant optimization, using CFD to optimize the geometry of the inlet, impeller, and nozzle to improve propulsion efficiency by 2-5 percentage points at high speeds and reduce cavitation noise and pump vibration; second, deep integration with electric propulsion and hybrid power systems, integrating waterjet propulsion units with motors/inverters to support all-electric propulsion, diesel-electric hybrid, and battery pack switching, while remaining compatible with energy management systems; third, integrated propulsion and attitude control, enabling automatic berthing, precise low-speed maneuvering, and wave compensation in multi-nozzle, multi-thrust configurations through linkage with DP/automatic berthing systems and motion control systems; and fourth, material and corrosion protection upgrades, evolving towards super duplex stainless steel, seawater-resistant aluminum alloys, composite coatings, and replaceable wear-resistant bushings to improve durability in high-gravel, high-silt waters and reduce life-cycle maintenance costs. The overall trend points to higher propulsion efficiency, lower noise, higher maneuverability, and closer integration with ship automation/electric systems.
Market Influencing Factors
The growth of the waterjet propulsion unit market is driven by multiple factors: On the one hand, the increase in global coastal and inland waterway high-speed passenger transport, law enforcement and rescue missions, as well as the increase in offshore wind power operation and maintenance and near-shore engineering operations, has led to a continuous increase in the number of high-speed, shallow-water, and highly maneuverable vessels, directly driving the new installation volume of waterjet propulsion units; on the other hand, the expansion of the coastal tourism, marine leisure, and high-end yacht markets, and the demand for high speed and comfort, are driving shipowners to prefer waterjet propulsion in new projects to achieve lower vibration and higher maneuverability. Meanwhile, many national/regional government departments, coast guards, and maritime agencies are replacing older propeller-driven high-speed boats with waterjet-propelled boats through fleet renewal programs, thus forming relatively stable public sector orders; on the cost side, fluctuations in the prices of stainless steel and aluminum alloy materials, and rising processing capacity and labor costs are putting pressure on the manufacturing costs of waterjet propulsion systems, forcing suppliers to control costs through modular design and regionalized manufacturing. Overall, the waterjet propulsion market exhibits a pattern of "driven by high-speed and special-purpose vessels + supported by public sector and wind power bidding projects + coexistence of international brands and regional manufacturers + additional premium brought by electric propulsion and intelligent control." It is expected to maintain medium-to-high-speed growth in the high-speed and special-purpose vessel sectors in the next few years, while remaining a relatively niche but technologically advanced and high-value-added propulsion solution in the traditional commercial vessel sector.
This report is a detailed and comprehensive analysis for global Waterjet Propulsion Unit market. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses are presented by manufacturers, by region & country, by Engine Power and by Application. As the market is constantly changing, this report explores the competition, supply and demand trends, as well as key factors that contribute to its changing demands across many markets. Company profiles and product examples of selected competitors, along with market share estimates of some of the selected leaders for the year 2025, are provided.
Key Features:
Global Waterjet Propulsion Unit market size and forecasts, in consumption value ($ Million), sales quantity (Units), and average selling prices (K US$/Unit), 2021-2032
Global Waterjet Propulsion Unit market size and forecasts by region and country, in consumption value ($ Million), sales quantity (Units), and average selling prices (K US$/Unit), 2021-2032
Global Waterjet Propulsion Unit market size and forecasts, by Engine Power and by Application, in consumption value ($ Million), sales quantity (Units), and average selling prices (K US$/Unit), 2021-2032
Global Waterjet Propulsion Unit market shares of main players, shipments in revenue ($ Million), sales quantity (Units), and ASP (K US$/Unit), 2021-2026
The Primary Objectives in This Report Are:
To determine the size of the total market opportunity of global and key countries
To assess the growth potential for Waterjet Propulsion Unit
To forecast future growth in each product and end-use market
To assess competitive factors affecting the marketplace
This report profiles key players in the global Waterjet Propulsion Unit market based on the following parameters - company overview, sales quantity, revenue, price, gross margin, product portfolio, geographical presence, and key developments. Key companies covered as a part of this study include Wärtsilä, Kongsberg, HamiltonJet, Marine Jet Power, Larsen & Toubro, Castoldi, Alamarin-Jet, Doen WaterJets, SCHOTTEL, Thrustmaster, etc.
This report also provides key insights about market drivers, restraints, opportunities, new product launches or approvals.
Market Segmentation
Waterjet Propulsion Unit market is split by Engine Power and by Application. For the period 2021-2032, the growth among segments provides accurate calculations and forecasts for consumption value by Engine Power, and by Application in terms of volume and value. This analysis can help you expand your business by targeting qualified niche markets.
Market segment by Engine Power
3000 kW
3500 kW
Others
Market segment by Material
Aluminium Waterjets
Steel Waterjets
Market segment by Maximum Speed
30 knots
40 knots
Others
Market segment by Application
Merchant Ships
Ferry
Fishing Boats
Others
Major players covered
Wärtsilä
Kongsberg
HamiltonJet
Marine Jet Power
Larsen & Toubro
Castoldi
Alamarin-Jet
Doen WaterJets
SCHOTTEL
Thrustmaster
Flo Pro Marine
NAMJet
Bosung Industry
Market segment by region, regional analysis covers
North America (United States, Canada, and Mexico)
Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Russia, Italy, and Rest of Europe)
Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia, and Australia)
South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Rest of South America)
Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, South Africa, and Rest of Middle East & Africa)
The content of the study subjects, includes a total of 15 chapters:
Chapter 1, to describe Waterjet Propulsion Unit product scope, market overview, market estimation caveats and base year.
Chapter 2, to profile the top manufacturers of Waterjet Propulsion Unit, with price, sales quantity, revenue, and global market share of Waterjet Propulsion Unit from 2021 to 2026.
Chapter 3, the Waterjet Propulsion Unit competitive situation, sales quantity, revenue, and global market share of top manufacturers are analyzed emphatically by landscape contrast.
Chapter 4, the Waterjet Propulsion Unit breakdown data are shown at the regional level, to show the sales quantity, consumption value, and growth by regions, from 2021 to 2032.
Chapter 5 and 6, to segment the sales by Engine Power and by Application, with sales market share and growth rate by Engine Power, by Application, from 2021 to 2032.
Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, to break the sales data at the country level, with sales quantity, consumption value, and market share for key countries in the world, from 2021 to 2026.and Waterjet Propulsion Unit market forecast, by regions, by Engine Power, and by Application, with sales and revenue, from 2027 to 2032.
Chapter 12, market dynamics, drivers, restraints, trends, and Porters Five Forces analysis.
Chapter 13, the key raw materials and key suppliers, and industry chain of Waterjet Propulsion Unit.
Chapter 14 and 15, to describe Waterjet Propulsion Unit sales channel, distributors, customers, research findings and conclusion.