Given the game engine etc. I would not be supprised if there was a steampunk mod (there is one for ark) that would add steam engines for ships. once the game is more stable, otherwise it will need a lot of updated. Someone on the atlas site suggested steampunk conversion DLC is the community may accept in the near future. At least till they fix most of the bugs etc. and get it in a fit state to release, so no new maps or ships only available to DLC owners etc.