TUI Cruises to deploy air lubrication on Mein Schiff 6
The cruise vessel Mein Schiff 6 is to be euipped with a passive air lubrication system
(Source: TUI Cruses)
Liverpool-based Armada Technologies is to supply a passive air lubrication system (PALS) for Mein Schiff 6, a cruise vessel owned by TUI Cruises. The 15-deck vessel, with a gross tonnage of 98,785, was built in 2017 and has capacity for 2,534 passengers.
TUI Cruises, a joint venture between Germany’s TUI Group and US cruise company, Royal Caribbean Group, is to install a second-generation PALS which operates without air compressors.
The system uses a vessel’s forward motion and surrounding water flow to create a fine air-water mixture that reduces hull resistance and improves water flow around the hull even in rough sea conditions.
TUI Cruises’ director Fleet Operations & Health, Christian Lerche, said: “Our path to net zero requires working with partners who share our focus on practical, scalable innovation. Armada’s PALS offers a compelling opportunity to enhance vessel efficiency and reduce emissions, and we’re pleased to be taking this important step together on board one of our vessels.”
Armada’s CEO, Alex Routledge, commented: “We’re proud to be partnering with TUI Cruises, one of the industry’s most forward-thinking operators, to deliver tangible efficiency and sustainability gains. This agreement reflects growing confidence in PALS and its proven ability to deliver real performance improvements at sea.”
The PALS will be installed during a docking in Singapore in the first quarter of 2027.
