Astican Simultaneously Overhauls Five Luxury Cruise Ships in Dry Dock at the Port of Las Palmas
The ship repair company is also installing new bow bulbs on two of the vessels— a technically complex operation being carried out for the first time in the Canary Islands.
These hydrodynamic upgrades improve energy efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.
The Port of Las Palmas is experiencing an exceptional level of activity in the luxury cruise segment, with five high‑end vessels currently in dry dock at ASTICAN’s facilities, where extensive repair, maintenance and high‑value transformation work is underway.
The vessels include the luxury expedition ships Le Austral and Le Boréal, operated by Ponant and recently engaged in polar itineraries; Sea Cloud Spirit, an exclusive three‑masted sailing cruise ship measuring 138 metres in length; Ocean Explorer, a premium expedition vessel operated by Quark Expeditions and dedicated to polar campaigns; and Hanse Explorer, a luxury expedition megayacht and ice‑class vessel designed specifically for polar and remote‑area exploration.
Beyond the standard repair operations typical for this class of vessel, ASTICAN is carrying out a particularly noteworthy intervention on the two Ponant ships: the installation of newly designed and manufactured bow bulbs. This pioneering project in the Canary Islands aims to enhance the ships’ energy efficiency and reduce their environmental footprint.
Beatriz Calzada, President of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, highlighted that “the simultaneous presence of these luxury cruise ships in our facilities reflects the level of specialization the Port of Las Palmas has achieved in the field of ship repair, keeping us at the forefront nationally. This is a highly demanding segment that requires technical capability, precision and a highly qualified port community. The fact that this is the first time the Canary Islands has manufactured and installed bow bulbs to make vessels more efficient and reduce their emissions is no coincidence, but the result of the know‑how of our port companies, which have earned the trust of shipowners thanks to the high quality of the services they provide.”
ASTICAN’s shipyard group has positioned itself as a national leader in this type of project, having now completed six similar interventions across its ASTICAN and ASTANDER facilities.
Innovation Driving Energy Efficiency at Sea
Bow bulbs are hydrodynamic structures located at the forward part of the hull, below the waterline, designed to alter water flow and reduce resistance as the vessel moves. Their optimized shape lowers fuel consumption and, consequently, greenhouse gas emissions, while improving overall performance at sea.
Installing these new bulbs requires removing the original structures with which the ships were built and replacing them with designs tailored to their current operational profiles— a technically demanding process requiring a high degree of specialization.
The simultaneous presence of these five luxury vessels further strengthens the Port of Las Palmas’ position as one of the leading Atlantic hubs for specialized ship repair, capable of handling complex projects across both the offshore sector and the high‑end passenger segment.
Calzada concluded that “initiatives like this—combining innovation, sustainability and technical expertise—reinforce our international positioning strategy and allow us to continue advancing toward a more efficient, competitive and environmentally aligned port model.”
(Astican Simultaneously Overhauls Five Luxury Cruise Ships in Dry Dock at the Port of Las Palmas)
