A method of providing a watercraft, especially an icebreaker or a cargo ship, tanker or similar transport vessel, with improved ice penetration characteristics and a watercraft manufactured according to the method, which watercraft has a hull (1) with a first end (2) and a second end (3) and which is equipped at said second end with a propulsion arrangement, which provides the main propulsive thrust of the watercraft, while the watercraft moves with either end ahead, and the steering of the watercraft, whereby said second end (3) of the watercraft is shaped and designed so that it, as such, has efficient ice penetration characteristics. Said propulsion arrangement is chosen so as to include at least three propulsion devices, at least the majority of which are rudder propeller devices (4) and which are arranged at least at two different distances from said second end (3) of the watercraft so that when the watercraft moves in ice or ice build-ups said second end (3) ahead, the propeller with one or more propulsion devices located near said second end (3) of the watercraft is arranged to break ice and the propeller with one or more propulsion devices located farther away from said second end (3) of the watercraft is arranged to remove disintegrated ice or ice chunks away from the ice build-up.