Currently, the Port of Las Palmas is experiencing intense activity in the high-end cruise sector, with five luxury vessels undergoing complex repair, maintenance, and transformation work at the ASTICAN shipyards. Among the ships are the Le Austral and Le Boréal from the Ponant company, the exclusive three-masted sailing cruise ship Sea Cloud Spirit, the Ocean Explorer from Quark Expeditions, and the megayacht Hanse Explorer, all involved in international operations, many linked to polar expeditions.
One of the most notable interventions is the installation of new bow bulbs, designed and manufactured by ASTICAN, on the two Ponant vessels. This pioneering initiative in the Canary Islands aims to optimize the ships' energy efficiency and minimize their environmental impact. Bow bulbs are hydrodynamic components that, by modifying water flow, reduce resistance to the ship's advance, thereby decreasing fuel consumption and pollutant emissions.
“"The simultaneous presence of these luxury cruise ships in our facilities reflects the level of specialization that the Port of Las Palmas has achieved in naval repair, which keeps us at the national forefront in this sector."
The president of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, Beatriz Calzada, emphasized that this concentration of luxury vessels demonstrates the port's high specialization in naval repair, positioning it as a national leader. She highlighted that this segment demands great technical capacity and precision, and that the manufacturing and installation of bow bulbs in the Canary Islands is the result of the knowledge and trust earned by port companies.
The ASTICAN group is consolidating its position as a benchmark in Spain for this type of project, having already carried out six similar operations between its ASTICAN and ASTANDER centers. The complexity of these operations, which involve replacing original bulbs with optimized designs, requires a high level of technical specialization.
“"Actions like this, which combine innovation, sustainability, and technical knowledge, reinforce our international positioning strategy and allow us to continue advancing towards a more efficient, competitive port model aligned with the environmental challenges of the maritime sector."
The presence of these five luxury cruise ships reinforces the Port of Las Palmas' position as a central hub in the Atlantic for specialized naval repair, capable of handling complex projects in both the offshore and high-end passenger vessel segments. These actions, integrating innovation, sustainability, and technical expertise, are crucial for the port's international positioning strategy and its evolution towards a more efficient and competitive model, in line with the maritime sector's environmental challenges.
