Major European and Mediterranean operators have docked ships at yards in Italy and Malta
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Palumbo Shipyards has refitted several ro-pax ferries for multiple European and Mediterranean operators at its yards in Italy and Malta in the first few months of 2018.
Renovation work has been carried out onboard ferries belonging to Tirrenia, Moby Lines, Cotunav, GNV, Minoan Lines, Blue Star Ferries, Caronte & Toursist, ANEK Lines, Gozo Channel Operations, Virtu Ferries, Ventouris Ferries, Toremar, Stena and many others.
One highlight at Palumbo’s yard in Naples, Italy was the renovation of the crew areas onboard Toremar’s Oglasa. Palumbo’s team renewed all the flooring, panels, furniture and electrical, water, sanitation and safety systems in all crew cabins, officer staterooms, petty officer cabins on both Deck 2 and Deck 6.
Speaking to ICFR, Andrea Sabbion, sales manager for commercial ships at Palumbo Shipyards, said: “Our Naples shipyard is surely becoming a leader in ferry refit and conversions thanks to the skills and experience of our employees and out strategic location.”
Project highlights at Palumbo’s yard in Messina, Italy included refits of Moby Line’s Moby Dada and Moby Tommy in April.
April was also a busy month for Palumbo’s Malta yard, which worked on Stena Line’s ro-ro ferry Stena Forecaster, GNV’s Excellent and Cotunav’s Tanit, which is the biggest ferry in Mediterranean. Tanit, which docked to undergo her first special survey, will undergo an extensive 40-day refurbishment that will conclude in May.
Palumbo also has several other ferry revitalisations scheduled for later in 2018. “Ferries have to be completed according to a strict time schedule, therefore we always need to have good time management and efficient coordination between all involved parties,” said Sabbion. “Today’s ro-pax ferries are more like cruise ships in terms of their onboard facilities and entertainment. Consequently, shipowners want to work with partners like Palumbo who can assist them with technical upgrades, as well as refitting public spaces, cabins and other hotel elements.”