Feature 3 | finland’s marine industries
V.Delta draws on design and operations
With the newbuilding market stalled, a one of a kind combination of
ship design and operational know-how is generating an ever-widening
portfolio of services in the ship conversion market for the partners in the
joint venture V.Delta.
V
.Delta, the 50-50 joint venture Phoenix Reisen said it was studying a new aluminium structure on the top
b et we en Finnish nava l whether to take the plan forward, or deck to create the observation lounge,
architecture and marine whether a smaller scale refurbishment ocean-view spa and fitness centre, and
engineering group Deltamarin and would be more appropriate. Either way, eight new superior-class suites. Some 50
V.Ships Leisure, continues to extend the the ship will likely enter a yard for work tonnes of steelwork were also replaced in
range of services it is offering to facilitate in April 2011, after handover. V.Delta’s the ballast tanks, and a new panoramic
ship conversions. project brief will include developing lift was installed. V.Delta prepared all
C oncent rat ing on manag ing a design for the addition of balconies, technical specifications and handled the
conversion projects for owners of cruise as well as establishing a yard for the bidding process with competing yards and
ships, ferries and mega-yachts since its conversion to take place. suppliers, supervised work, controlled the
formation in 2007, the company draws Rather than simply offering project budget and planning, and assisted GEM,
on experience that extends from first management for conversions, however, the interior design contractor.
principle engineering to day to day V.Delta offers anything from feasibility The depth of design and engineering
operations to manage major conversion to turn-key management, taking in knowledge available to the partnership
work on existing tonnage. V.Delta also basic design to construction drawings, has been further demonstrated in an
manages around 20 drydockings a year engineering, procurement, construction ongoing project covering the renewal of
and concentrates on interior design supervision, logistics, interior designing, an engine room onboard a mega yacht
refurbishment and noise and vibration bidding specification, contract negotiation at Blom + Voss, whose ownership has
troubleshooting. and award to yard and subcontractors. not been disclosed. However, what is
The company has high expectations that Additionally, the company can offer disclosed is the fact that the stripping
significantly more conversion business training for ship and shore based out and replacement of the existing
will be generated from 2011 onwards. staff, energy balance consultation for installation exploited 3D modelling
Live projects include the proposed machinery and accommodation spaces software based on the automotive
conversion of Artemis, the 1196 passenger, and engineering for hydrodynamic industry product CATIA, where 2D
1984-vintage cruise ship sold by P&O upgrades. construction drawings are extracted
Cruises in October 2009 to Artania V.Delta managing director, Matteo Di from the 3D model.
Shipping. Artemis will continue to sail Maio said that the dearth of orders in the
for P&O through to mid-April 2011, but cruise and ferry markets would see owners Crosshead: Fuel specifics
Artania Shipping is set to charter the ship, of existing ships more prepared to invest Another area where V.Delta has been
renamed as Artania, to the German tour in assets already at sea from 2011 on, in carving out a niche based on its broad
operator Phoenix Reisen. order to prolong their lives and adapt engineering and operational experience
Discussions are continuing as to them to changing market demands. is in energy conservation. Given the
whether the new owners will take Typical was the US$25million fact that fuel consumption contributes
forward a P&O plan to add up to 100 new refurbishment of the 296 passenger up to 50% of a ship’s operating costs,
balconies. V.Delta has already undertaken capacity Silversea Cruises vessel Silver the company has developed a targeted
some work towards this end. Balconies Wind at the end of 2008. Here, work at the ‘Energy Conservation Program’ to offer
have already been added to this ship in San Giorgio del Porto yard in Genoa over a systematic approach to evaluating and
the past. As a result, class determined that a 25 day period saw a new deck added, improving average fuel consumption.
past additions had brought the ship to the with significant upgrading of cabins and The approach includes an analysis of
limits of its longitudinal strength, given public areas entailing the creation of a historical fuel performance, culminating
the new insertions in the shell. V.Delta new block for the Spa and Observation in a report highlighting weaknesses,
was, therefore, asked to perform finite Lounge. Last year, V.Delta also served systems deficiencies and areas that require
element modelling to establish how much as project manager on a similar refit for improvements, the development on an
strengthening would be required for up sister vessel Silver Cloud. action plan and follow up analysis.
to 100 more balconies to be added in the V.Delta’s responsibilities on Silver Wind This analysis takes in the performance
upper decks five and six. extended to the design and installation of of individual crew members. Depending
60 The Naval Architect February 2010
NA Feb10 - p60+p61.indd 60 03/02/2010 11:34:33
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