CRUISE LINER TECHNOLOGY
Twin boosts to the fortunes of Alstom Marine A
MAJOR boost to the fortunes of Alstom Marine (Chantiers de l'Atlantique), at St Nazaire, France, has been given by two recent events: one is the momentous agreement - discussed elsewhere in this issue - to link with Aker Yards to create a new European force in high-value-added tonnage (especially cruise liners) and the other is a recent contract to build two giant cruise liners for Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC).
Following the completion in 2004 of Cunard's new flagship Queen Mary 2, the St Nazaire yard only had two medium-size liners, also for MSC, to work on (MSC Musica and MSC Orchestra, The Naval Architect May 2005, page 46), expected to be delivered in spring this year and 2007 respectively). Prior to that, in 2003, Alstom Marine had delivered two further vessels to the same owner: the smaller, 60,000gt MSC Lirica and MSC Opera, whose interior design was discussed in the May 2003 issue of this journal.
At the time of completion of Queen Mary 2, some concern was expressed over future orders; nevertheless, Alstom Marine's chairman, Patrick Boissier, was confident that owners would eventually be ordering new tonnage, and his prediction has come true with the new contracts. Although with a smaller gross tonnage (133,500gt), this new post-Panamax class will carry, at 3887 passengers, probably even more than Royal Caribbean's Freedom-class ships, the first of which is very close to delivery at Aker Finnyards's Turku yard. In addition, there will be a large crew of 1300. Most of the design work will be handled by the leading Italian consultancy Studio de Jorio, which worked on the two previous classes of MSC vessels.
New type of semi-gravity lifeboat davit to be employed
At least one subcontractor has announced its supply contract for the new MSC vessels: Umoe Schat-Harding will deliver six of its CTL38 tenders, 20 MPC32 150-person lifeboats, plus two MCB24 combined lifesaving and rescue designs. Included in the contract will be the design and supply of a new type of semi-gravity davit, the PD24DM, with lower weight, fewer components, and easier installation. Since the new liners have post-Panamax dimensions, lifeboats can be stowed protruding from each ship's sides. This means that the new davits can be fitted slightly above the promenade deck; this will enable the shipyard, says Umoe Schat-Harding, to build in an extra cabin deck with outside balconies,thus contributing towards the extra passenger numbers.
Alstom Marine is, of course, also an expert in LNG carrier construction and is building three new-generation LNG carriers for Gaz de France, featuring the evolutionary CS1 cargo containment system.
An impression of the very large post-Panamax cruise liners to be built by Alstom Marine for its existing customer, Mediterranean Shipping Co. They will have a huge capacity of 3887 passengers plus a crew of 1300.
technology has proved problematical for the yard, and the first ship, the 75,000m3
Unfortunately, this Gaz de
France Energy, originally intended to be delivered about this time last year, is still at the shipyard, having major repairs and alterations to the cargo barriers.
THE NAVALARCHITECT FEBRUARY 2006 57
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