By
Rebecca Gibson |
With so many yards operating in the ship repair industry, it is no easy feat for companies to differentiate themselves from the competition. However, German ship repair specialist Blohm + Voss is able to do achieve this by relying on its proven reputation as a company that goes above and beyond to meet clients’ expectations.
“Our main advantage in the market is the fact that we have so much experience with passenger vessels,” says Pilaar. “Many of the major cruise operators rely on us to serve them and because we’ve carried out a lot of work on their ships, we understand how to meet their specific needs. Knowing the ships so well also enables us to make decisions quickly, which is something that other yards are not able to do.”
Pilaar also notes the company’s other key advantage: Blohm + Voss has a large repair yard with advanced equipment that is maintained to high standards. “The size of our yard means that we can store all of the equipment that will be used during the project in containers on the dockside,” he explains. “This means we don’t need to continuously transport materials from other places, which can waste time and increase costs.”
This year, Blohm + Voss expects to complete work on several cruise ships, ranging from minor repair jobs to large restoration and interior modification tasks. The company will also carry out an extensive refit onboard a mega yacht, which will involve everything from repairing steelwork and swimming pools tiles, to refreshing paintwork and the interiors. While some yards may be concerned by the scope of work, Pilaar is confident that Blohm + Voss can successfully deliver each project to a high quality.
“Our overriding aim is to complete every project on time and within budget, which can be challenging,” says Pilaar. “I am always amazed at how easily our project management team can navigate language barriers to liaise with various subcontractors, cope with multiple customer requests, organise and price several different jobs, and still deliver everything to a high standard within the given timeframe!”
Considering the future of the passenger shipping industry, Pilaar highlights that the yard is also well prepared to help shipowners and operators as they begin to invest in hybrid power, cleaner fuels and scrubbers.
“Our in-house team is already well acquainted with the current and upcoming environmental legislation and follows strict procedures to ensure that we don’t lose our hard-earned Health, Safety and Environmental certification,” explains Pilaar. “We have already completed several successful scrubber installations, so our references in this area are beginning to build up. I think it will be an interesting decade, especially for companies that design and install solutions to improve the energy efficiency of passenger vessels.”
Overall, Pilaar is optimistic for the future of the company. He says: “Any ship entering the Blohm + Voss yard is repaired or modified to a high quality and leaves our yard on time. This means the operator can be confident that they can maintain their scheduled itineraries, which ensures the passengers are happy. Plus, we know that if we do a good job, our customers will return.”
This article appeared in the Autumn/Winter 2014 edition of International Cruise & Ferry Review. To read other articles, you can subscribe to the magazine in printed or digital formats.