By
Rebecca Gibson |
With 17 cruise ships expected between September 2012 and March 2013, preparations are in hand for the arrival of the first of these, Carnival Dream, in September. Carnival Conquest and Carnival Glory will follow, each of them to have ‘Captain’s Suites’ added on top of the bridge/wheelhouse. The yard is undertaking these refits as a turnkey project, supported by Ellevi (full interiors and services package) and Somec (windows and balustrades). This turnkey approach has been developed for the past few years with CCL and is now coming to fruition as this is a follow up of a similar project to that successfully undertaken on Carnival Valor. We will then take receipt of Prinsendam, Zuiderdam and Ryndam from Holland America Line. Onboard Prinsendam, the roles are reversed and we will support Somec by fabricating and installing structural elements required to fulfil their project. We believe that this approach shows diversity in thinking, as by supporting specialists, we continue to put the customer first and showcase our expertise in using our facilities and resources to supply a quality project. 2012 concludes with Emerald Princess, which will be stemmed for a routine maintenance docking. To support all customers, the ambition for the yard is continual pursuit of the ‘one-stop shop’ concept. We offer initiatives to reduce onboard maintenance and fulfil the requirements required by the authorities. One such initiative is the provision of metal spraying for lifeboat davits, shell doors and other surfaces. We have an agreement with Navalimpianti, which will provide the technology while we provide the labour. This application is expected to increase the life expectancy of the davit and reduce onboard maintenance.
We are delighted to have partners such as ABB, TurboUSA, Verified Services, Wärtsilä, Rolls Royce and Chris Marine operational within the yard. This complements our own areas of expertise, including steelwork, welding, mechanical, painting and electrical. For the painting element, the yard has introduced robotic blasting techniques and equipment, effectively reducing time in hull blasting. This use of this equipment makes the task safer and more efficient than traditional blasting. The unit currently being used is of the newest design produced by Chariot Robotics, which also provides training on operation and maintenance of the units.
Regarding yard facilities developments, a new lifeboat reception area will be ready for the forthcoming cruise season. We have developed a covered area where clients can land their lifeboats and tenders perform necessary maintenance. The ‘outfit berth’ formally known as North Beach is in progress, with completion scheduled for 2014. Here we will have a full-service berth with 40- and 80-ton crane capacity, and a large lay-down area suitable for prefabrication of outfitted units. We see this as a development that could lead to new business opportunities in relatively new markets for the yard. With an eye on the financial turmoil still affecting the industry, we believe this will give us the edge we need to continue to engage and improve our services.