German Cruise Upgrades with Rolls-Royce Propulsion

Rolls-Royce Plc won a contract to supply its Promas Lite propulsion system to German based company AIDA Cruises as part of a technical upgrade of their Sphinx series cruise ships.

Promas Lite is an integrated propeller and rudder system that increases efficiency and maneuverability, and is designed specifically for retrofitting to existing ships.

AIDA Cruises, part of the Carnival Group, will install Promas Lite on their AidaSol cruise ship during dry docking in December this year.

“Fuel efficiency is a key driver for our customers and we’re pleased to welcome AIDA Cruises into the group of leading cruise operators that are choosing Promas Lite as a relatively simple upgrade that will significantly reduce operating costs,” said Andy Marsh, Rolls-Royce, President – Services. “The fuel savings achieved by this system are typically in the range of 4-6%, depending on the type of operation. Savings can increase beyond 20% when combined with an adapted operating profile and propeller blade design.”

With installation taking place during routine dry docking, and a relatively short return on investment for operators, Promas Lite is gaining popularity with ship owners, the company said, and since first launched in 2008, 15 cruise ships and ferries have been fitted. The propulsion system is suitable for a wide range of ship types and other future orders include fishing vessels and cargo ships

www.rolls-royce.com/marine