V.Ships Leisure V.Ships Leisure, a leading provider of management services for cruise, ferry, and yacht industries, supports over 100 vessels worldwide.
Pioneering Technology in the Cruise Industry V.Ships Leisure is the leading provider of independent management services for the cruise, ferry, and yacht industries. With a global presence and extensive resources, the company supports over 100 vessels worldwide, offering comprehensive services including feasibility studies, new building projects, refurbishments, technical and hotel management, itinerary planning, and port operations. By providing personalised solutions tailored to each client’s needs, V.Ships Leisure ensures safe, resilient, and cost- effective operations. Recognised as the start-up platform for the cruise industry, V.Ships Leisure supports numerous brands as they introduce new ships equipped with cutting-edge technologies, ensuring their substantial investments are future-proof. Currently, this involves the use of dual-fuel systems, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) and marine gas oil (MGO), with other fuel types continually evaluated in collaboration with V.Ships Leisure and the broader V.Ships team of experts. This is particularly challenging as new projects operate on global itineraries, necessitating not only the availability and proven safety of these technologies but also the global availability of alternative fuels.
One notable project is the Orient Express, owned by Accor. In addition to a hybrid propulsion system that runs on MGO/ LNG, the Orient Express will feature a groundbreaking technological design known as ‘SolidSail.’ This system includes three rigid sails, each with a surface area of 1,500 square meters, hoisted on a balestron rig with three tilting masts that reach over 100 meters high. These sails can provide up to 100% of the propulsion in suitable weather conditions, heralding a new, more environmentally friendly vision of sea travel.
The first of at least two 220-meter ships, each with only 53 passenger suites, is currently under construction at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France. V.Ships Leisure is supporting Orient Express through the plan approval and construction phases and will provide technical management when the first ship begins operations in spring 2026. During its operation, Orient Express and V.Ships Leisure will continue to drive improvements, supported by ISO 14000 and ISO 50000 standards, constantly seeking ways to implement further efficiencies. Recognising that this will be the biggest challenge for the cruise and yacht industries moving forward, Orient Express is poised to embrace this opportunity by innovating with natural wind power.
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