EDITORIAL COMMENT
Cruise repair broadens its horizon
A computer-generated image of how Grand Princess will look after her impending upgrade and modification at Grand Bahama Shipyard.
I
t is perhaps significant that one of the biggest cruise vessel upgrade projects completed in recent months
took place not in one of the traditional specialised cruise refit centres in northern Europe,
the Mediterranean or the
Americas, but in Singapore. In this issue there is news of how the Sembawang yard carried out extensive work on Ocean Village prior to her delivery as Pacific Pearl to P&O Cruises. Tis multi-million pound project underlines the growing capabilities of Sembawang in the lucrative cruise ship upgrade and conversion market. Moreover Carnival has now signed a long term agreement making the yard its primary regional centre for cruise refurbishment, repair and conversion activity, so more vessels of this type are going to be docked here. Yards in South East Asia and the Far
East have not traditionally been selected for major cruise ship upgrade projects, with facilities such as Grand Bahama, Lloyd Werſt and Fincantieri tending to find favour because of their proximity to key cruise routes. However, cruising is becoming increasingly popular in the Far East and Australasia, with more vessels being home-ported in the region. As a result it is inevitable that a growing number of cruise repair and conversion projects will go to yards in Singapore, and possibly in time China, over the next few years. Te Middle East yards such as Drydocks World Dubai cannot be discounted either, as cruising in the Gulf gains in popularity as well.
Such geographical diversification
may well present logistical challenges for those sub-contractors and designers specialising in this field. But, as the Pacific Pearl project shows these can be overcome with careful planning. At one point over 240 shipping containers were stacked at the Sembawang yard with products and materials for the refit from around the world, while a multinational team of 1800 persons was tasked with carrying out the work. Yet the project went smoothly and the vessel sailed on time.
“it is inevitable that a growing number of cruise repair and conversion projects will go to yards in Singapore, and possibly in time China, over the next few years”
Grand Bahama is still comfortably the
market leader, docking 23 cruise ships last year, and with a similar number projected for 2011. While the company acknowledges that cruise ship owners have cut back on spending, a spokesman said: “Cruise operators have a long term
Shiprepair and Conversion Technology 1st Quarter 2011
view of their market and investments are still being driven by this long term view.” Spending is not just to make vessels nicer places to holiday on. Projects now almost invariably include work to fit new more environmentally friendly technology to meet tougher regulations as well. One of the biggest upgrade projects
for 2011 has just been announced by Princess Cruises, on Grand Princess, which is described as being ‘the most significant re-shaping and re-structuring ever to have been undertaken on any vessel in its fleet.’ During a 24 day refit the vessel will be given many new facilities, additional cabins and a new atrium, while alterations to the structure of the ship will result in improved operational performance, including greater fuel efficiency. The changes will be made during a drydock from 11 April to 4 May at the Grand Bahama Shipyard. Interestingly, while traditional cruise
ship yards may face tougher competition from emerging players over the coming years, there are signs that these yards are already responding to this challenge. For example both Grand Bahama and Fincantieri have said they are planing to ‘export’ their expertise in this field to yards world-wide, allowing owners to chose from a wider range of facilities, but with the
confidence that the
experience such yards have gained will still be available to them. It sounds as if this could be a ‘win-win’ strategy for all concerned. SCRT
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