MV Werften selects MAN engines for two “Global Class” cruise ships
MAN Diesel & Turbo and MV Werften have concluded a contract to equip two “Global Class” cruise ships for Star Cruises. With a registered tonnage (RT) of 200,000 tons each, the ships will be some of the largest on the market and will each be equipped with six type 48/60CR engines with a combined output of 96,000 kW. The ships are scheduled for delivery in 2020 and 2021, the company said in its press release.
The customer and recipient of these ocean-going giants, which will operate in China and all over Asia, is the “Star Cruises” brand of Genting Hong Kong. Genting Hong Kong has been active in the cruise business for 23 years and recently launched its new luxury cruise line brand “Dream Cruises - The Most Luxury Asian Cruise Line” with two 150,000 RT ships – the “Genting Dream” delivered this month and “World Dream” to be delivered next year, both equipped with MAN engines. Genting Hong Kong also owns “Crystal Cruises – The Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line in the World”.
This year, the company bought German shipyards in Wismar, Rostock and Stralsund and now operates them as the shipyard group MV Werften. This strategic step was taken to secure the company’s expansion plans in the growth markets of South-East Asia and China and in the global market for luxury cruise ships.
“The cruise business is globally experiencing strong growth. This has led to very long lead times of up to 10 years for new large cruise ships, since only few shipyards are specialized in the very challenging construction process of cruise ships. We want to change this by having earlier delivery and incorporate the latest design as the ships are being built”, comments Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Chairman and CEO of the Genting corporation.
MAN Diesel & Turbo is one of the world’s leading suppliers of propulsion systems for cruise ships and has been able to significantly extend its own market share within this segment in recent years. In total, the company has already equipped more than 80 cruise ships with engines or complete drive systems.
