Managing director Ralph Petersen explains why ship operators can trust the German shipyard
By
Rebecca Gibson |
This article was first published in the Autumn/Winter 2018 issue of International Cruise & Ferry Review. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed.
What cruise and ferry projects have Blohm+Voss completed so far this year?
At the beginning of the year, we overhauled the hatch covers on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Balmoral and completed general repairs on her sister Boudicca. We’ve carried out more than 100 successful repair projects for Fred. Olsen over the past 45 years and we very much look forward to the arrival of further vessels in 2019. This March, we spent just over two weeks installing a new ducktail on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Hanseatic to increase the vessel’s stability. The project was technically challenging because we had to provide detailed design and workshop drawings to meet class approval requirements, and also had to prefabricate and install around 100 tons of steel elements for the ducktail. In addition, we completed repairs on Phoenix Reisen’s Albatros and carried out extensive work (including applying a new layer of silicone paint) to Royal Caribbean International’s Brilliance of the Seas. The latter project was successfully completed during a very short period of time to a high standard – a speciality of Blohm+Voss.
Can you tell us what projects are booked for the remainder of 2018?
September will be a very busy month for us. One of our regular visitors, Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa, will return to our dry dock for stabiliser work and Phoenix Reisen’s Amadea will be undergoing a general refit.
What business values drive team performance at Blohm+Voss?
Delivering high quality refit services and meeting, and exceeding, our customers’ needs are of paramount importance to us. Repairing or refurbishing passenger vessels is one of the biggest challenges for shipyards because it demands precise engineering, project management skills, logistics and high-quality implementation. Shipowners can rely on Blohm+Voss to transform their vision into reality within a short deadline, so that the vessel can be upgraded quickly and re-enter service on schedule. Blohm+Voss is renowned for quality and reliability, and for delivering projects worldwide on time and in budget. We can ensure this high level of service with continuous investment in our workforce, facilities and equipment.
How are industry trends impacting your work?
Currently, there’s an extensive order book for new cruise ships and ferries, so more of our clients are planning refits and ship lengthening projects for their existing vessels. Overhauls are usually carried out every two to three years to keep the vessels in good condition for guests. We’re happy to provide services at a competitive price and our aim is to do a fantastic job, ensuring that our customers want to come back to us for every subsequent refit.
In what ways are you able to support owners in their efforts to make their operations more sustainable?
Many of our customers value their ecological footprint and with new legislation arising all the time, we are consistently upgrading our shipyard and training our workforce to meet these measures wherever possible. We endeavour to use the most up-to-date manufacturing technologies and offer green solutions where they are available. Our objective is to ensure that our customers’ vessels are running as efficiently and as cost effectively as possible.
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