Cruise & Ferry Interiors 2020

9 0 DES IGN PERSPECTI VE Efficiency in cabin construction Standardisation and prefabrication are just some of the ways that shipowners can improve efficiency and reduce costs when creating onboard spaces C ruise ships have, for a long time, been a source of envy among travellers, but these ‘floating cities’ and ‘resorts at sea’ can only be realised by the expert craftsmanship of those who are involved in designing, building and outfitting every nook and cranny. At Marine Interiors, a subsidiary of the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, we take this responsibility very seriously. Our range of services in both newbuilding and refurbishment has seen the company reach an overall turnover of €250 million (US$280 million) in 2019 and has placed us as the global leader in the cruise accommodation industry with a yearly delivery of approximately 12,000 cabins, 5,000 wet units, 40,000 square metres of public areas, and increasing volumes of galleys and glazing. When it comes to the construction of these facilities, there are two main approaches: prefabrication and specialised onboard services. Prefabrication is mainly used in newbuild projects, as our in-house team can produce the key structural elements of the cabin – for example the bulkheads and ceiling – via an automated production line and proprietary certification. We then use our dedicated yard space to put together all the relevant furniture and accessories – such as headboards and lamps – and lift the completed cabin onto the ship where it is then fitted directly to the steel superstructure. For specialised cabins and refurbishment projects, all erection and installation activities are performed onboard. While both of these methods have their merits, prefabrication has become a more popular option in the industry because it is more cost effective and easier to monitor quality control, particularly when installation time is limited. However, to reduce interferences By Gabriele Cafaro, Marine Interiors