Promas Lite Provides 11% Efficiency Lift

Carnival Cruise Lines has selected the Rolls-Royce propulsion system Promas Lite, combining propeller and rudder, for their cruise vessel Carnival Glory. Preliminary analysis of speed/power trials measurements indicates an increased propulsive efficiency improvement by 11-13 %. The selection of the Promas Lite system came as a result of close cooperation between Carnival Cruise Lines and Rolls-Royce Marine Services and after extensive laboratory testing at Rolls-Royce Hydrodynamic Research Centre in Sweden.

A new twin 5.8 meter Promas Lite propulsion system has been installed during the ships regular dry docking at Grand Bahama Shipyard in February 2010. The new propeller – rudder system replaces the old five bladed mono-block propellers with modern four bladed Rolls-Royce propellers with bolted blades, hub caps and rudder bulbs, optimized to suit the actual operational profile that utilizes lower speeds than the vessel was built for. The new propeller design is optimized for maximum fuel efficiency and emission reduction.

Extensive full-scale testing on Carnival Glory as well as Carnival Freedom has been performed before and after installation of the new Promas Lite propeller system. The preliminary analysis of speed/power trials measurements indicates an increased propulsive efficiency improvement by 11-13 %. The measured improvement is regarded as a success since the fuel consumption and emission is reduced accordingly.