PALERMO, IT. (THECOUNT) — As part of Windstar‘s $250 Million Star Plus Initiative, the company is transforming the three Star-class ships – Star Breeze, Star Legend, and Star Pride – by literally cutting the vessels in half.
The renovation of the ships in succession at Fincantieri Palermo shipyard include them being sliced down the center, pulled apart and an insert wedged in the empty space. Then the Italian fabricators are tasked with making the vessels seaworthy again.
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Fincantieri started off with cutting the Windstar Cruise Star Breeze in half in an effort to “stretch” three cruise ships.
The final cut in the hull of the Star Breeze took place at Fincantieri S.p.A. – Stabilimento di Palermo, marking the first major milestone in the process of inserting a 84-foot (25.6 meters) mid-section, reports GCaptain.
Star Breeze is the first of three Windstar cruise ships to receive the “stretch” treatment. Sister ships Star Legend and Star Pride will follow in 2020.
Lengthening cruise ships is far from a new concept in the cruise industry, but the Windstar project is significant because it also involves removing and replacing the main engines and diesel generators with a more environmentally friendly propulsion system.
“The $250 Million Star Plus Initiative is the most complex and comprehensive small ship lengthening, engine replacement, and renovation project undertaken in cruising, and we are very proud to be working with Fincantieri, the leader in major cruise ship renovations,” said Windstar Cruises President John Delaney. “The slightly larger ships and new enhancements will significantly build upon the signature onboard environment Windstar is famous for. The social and friendly public spaces on the ships create a welcome chemistry with guests and the crew.”
Work will be complete in late 2020.
Geo quick facts: The Province of Palermo was a province in the autonomous region of Sicily, a major island in Southern Italy. Its capital was the city of Palermo. On August 4, 2015, it was replaced by the Metropolitan City of Palermo – Wikipedia.