Ship’s propellers for AIDAstella

With 5 blades and a diameter of 5.2 meters – one propeller alone weights 12,800 kilograms. Today, the final work was completed on the two brass propellers for the latest club ship, AIDAstella, at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg.

The 35 meter long drive shafts are operated by two electric motors. Located at the end of the shafts are the two propellers, which enable AIDAstella to pick up speed. The design of the propellers has a crucial influence on how much energy is needed to propel the ship. The use of flow-optimized propellers and rudders has enabled AIDA Cruises to lower fuel consumption even further. The rudder blades are twisted asymmetrically at the level of the propeller hub. This design produces a sail effect, which gives the ship additional propulsion.

The ship’s propellers were produced at the propeller plants in Waren (Müritz) in the Federal State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and were designed especially for AIDAstella. Producing them is a real art, combining high-tech with traditional craft.

AIDAstella’s propellers will turn through the water for the first time on January 25, 2013 when the ship is undocked from Dockyard 1 and moved to the fitting-out wharf.

Further information on AIDAstella can be found at www.aida.de/aidastella.


Rostock, January 21, 2013