By
Rebecca Gibson |
Star Cruises’ SuperStar Virgo has become the first vessel in South East Asia to be equipped with Rolls-Royce’s Promas Lite propulsion system.
Designed to be retrofitted to older ships, Promas Lite is an integrated propeller and rudder system that enhances operational efficiency to increase fuel savings by around 5-15%.
Star Cruises expects to generate around £800,000 annually in fuel savings, while carbon dioxide emissions should decrease by around 4,000 tonnes per year by installing Promas Lite on Superstar Vigo. The estimated payback period is two years.
“The cruise industry is dependent on reliable, innovative technologies which are able to meet stricter environmental regulations and achieve return on investment quickly,” said Gustaf Gronberg, fleet captain and senior vice president of marine operations and newbuilding, Star Cruises. “Based on our previous positive experience with Rolls-Royce, we are confident that this upgrade will enable us to significantly reduce our fuel consumption and environmental impact.”
The 13-storey SuperStar Virgo, which is the largest cruise ship in Star Cruises’ Asian fleet, is currently homeported in Singapore, offering itineraries to Malaysia and Thailand.