By
Rebecca Gibson |
When Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Serenity underwent a major US$17 million renovation in November last year, turnkey contractor Precetti was the obvious choice of contractor for the conversion of the lido area.
Launched in 1962, Precetti had previously worked on similar renovation projects for operators – including Princess Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Costa Cruises – and was fully accustomed to the safety and hygiene features required by US Public Health Service, SOLAS and US Coast Guard regulations.
During the vessel’s 11-day drydock at the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz, Spain, Precetti demolished the existing lido area, replacing it with the newly designed, buffet-style Lido Café, Tastes restaurant and Trident Bar & Grill, which consists of 1,700sqm of inside and outside areas.
“Converting the Lido, Tastes and Trident restaurant area is definitely the largest, most complicated and challenging project Precetti has worked on to date,” says Paolo Passalacqua, president of Precetti. “Initially, we collaborated with the shipowner to finalise all of the construction and design details, but it was very clear that to complete such an extensive project in such a limited timeframe, we would have to prefabricate various elements.”
Precetti prefabricated many of the components over a three-month period and when its 300-strong team boarded the ship in Cadiz, spent 11 days replacing walls, floors and ceilings. The team also fitted new furniture, fixtures and decorations, as well as airconditioning, electrical, lighting, piping, refrigeration and security systems.
“We only had 11 days in drydock, by which time we had to make sure at least half of the area was accessible to Crystal Serenity’s passengers,” says Passalacqua. “We then finished the remaining areas over a five-day period while the ship was in service.”
To combat the pressures faced by its team, Precetti prioritised its various goals and created a detailed manufacturing and installation plan. “On an intense project like this with a very short timeframe and a large budget, every minute and every person counts,” explains Passalacqua. “Our first priority was to ensure the project was completed, while the second was to ensure it was finished on time and within budget. We printed a motto – ‘no matter what’ – on our employees’ t-shirts, which established a common goal and helped boost morale.”
According to Passalacqua, one of the main reasons for the project’s success was that everyone working on Crystal Serenity was working for the same purpose. “The best and most successful projects always share two common factors: good teamwork and a common goal,” explains Passalacqua. “You cannot achieve the results you want without cooperation between everyone involved – from your own team members, to the external contractors, the designers, project managers and the shipowner. Working on this type of project is like being onboard a ship – if people don’t communicate with each other and something goes wrong, everyone will end up in the water and no one wants that.”
Enthusiasm for renovation, conversion and newbuild projects is also a key factor. “We don’t just work for the money, we have always invested in the tools, software and training we need to offer our customers a quality product,” Passalacqua says. “Working on this kind of project satisfies a real, genuine passion and we always strive to exceed the customer’s expectations.”
Passalacqua is hopeful that Precetti will work with Crystal again in the future. “We will continue to support Crystal and I hope we can be involved in its future projects,” he concludes. “Many other operators have already asked if we can perform similar conversions onboard their ships, so we will continue to build on our existing skills and make the most of every opportunity we are given.”
This article appeared in the Spring/Summer 2014 edition of International Cruise & Ferry Review. To read other articles, you can subscribe to the magazine in printed or digital formats.