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Bolidt and Chantiers de l’Atlantique extend collaboration with new exclusivity agreement

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 20 December 2023 20 December 2023

Leading resin-applications specialist Bolidt has signed an exclusivity agreement with long-standing customer Chantiers de l’Atlantique covering all of the French shipyard’s newbuild cruise vessels – in addition to several navy ships, and offshore projects – until 2027.

The joint undertaking is the latest in a 32-year relationship that has so far seen Bolidt supply its decking systems to around 100 Chantiers de l’Atlantique-built vessels – primarily cruise ships. Notable projects include Cunard’s Queen Mary 2; Celebrity Cruises’ Edge-class vessels featuring the innovative ‘Magic Carpet’ movable platform; MSC’s World Class series, and Accor’s Orient Express Silenseas, which, upon entry into service in 2026, will be the world’s largest sailing ship.

“I have personally been working with Chantiers de l’Atlantique for more than 10 years, and have found their exceptional team to be open, reliable and professional,” said Jacco van Overbeek, Director Maritime, Bolidt. “They are also eager to learn about innovation in solutions such as ours, often sending new team members to our R&D facilities in the Netherlands to show them who we are, what we do, and what we stand for.”

Bolidt is currently developing pre-fabricated parts with support from the Saint-Nazaire-based shipbuilder, Van Overbeek added. “Our collaboration is not a typical supplier–customer relationship but more of a partnership between two parties that understand and rely on each other’s expertise, working together to achieve the best solutions for the finished vessels.”

Throughout its long and fruitful collaboration with Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Bolidt has also been enhancing its product portfolio in response to evolving demands from the cruise lines. This approach has resulted in innovations such as Bolidt’s industry-leading Bolideck Future Teak, which closely resembles real teak but is lighter and more durable with a lower environmental impact.

Van Overbeek also emphasised the priority the supplier continues to give to sustainability, including its targets for incorporating more bio-based materials and recycled parts into its decking systems. While many of its products already comprise 80% organic material, Bolidt wants to increase this figure in line with the International Maritime Organization’s ambition to achieve net zero in shipping-related emissions by 2050, he said.

Carnival Cruise Line selects Brenock Technology as cruise software provider

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 20 December 2023 20 December 2023

Brenock Technology, LLC, a leading provider of software applications and consulting services for marine, cruise and hospitality sectors, announced last week that it has signed an agreement with Carnival Cruise Line to serve as its crew planning and cost management software provider.

Carnival will utilize Brenock’s planning and cost management tool, Integrated Management System (IMS), and real-time expense reporting tool, Crew Acquisition Movement Expenses (CAMEX), to enhance visibility and control of planning and expense management across Carnival’s fleet. As cloud-based solutions, IMS and CAMEX will offer flexible and automated reporting and planning capabilities to optimize scheduling, invoicing, staffing and resource allocation for each voyage.

“Our vision of leveraging technology and building a scalable model aligns with Brenock’s product. We’re thrilled to collaborate with Brenock to modernize critical backend operations so we can continue to elevate the Carnival Team Member experience,” said Richard Brearley, Vice President of Crew and Travel Operations with Carnival Cruise Line. “With the fast-paced environment, having access to real-time solutions will help our crew operations streamline planning, reporting, and decision-making across Carnival.”

Carnival plans to go live with IMS and CAMEX in Q1 2024. IMS is one of the only single-platform solutions that offers comprehensive cloud-based cruise and marine management, providing Carnival with a uniform location to manage crew fees and expenses across various operational categories.

The crew management solution, CAMEX, simplifies expense reporting for crew members and can facilitate transactions and reimbursements in multiple currencies automatically handling conversions. The tool offers a customizable dashboard that delivers extensive visibility into outflows, enabling multiple users to monitor expense status in real-time, route transactions across departments and maintain compliance with company and employee expense policies.

“We are proud to partner with a renowned cruise line such as Carnival to optimize its planning and cost management processes,” said Manus Walsh, President and Founder of Brenock Technology. “Our suite of tools will help Carnival remain flexible and incorporate new ways to scale its operations.”

The agreement with Carnival marks another significant milestone in Brenock’s commitment to delivering comprehensive lifecycle management solutions to ensure seamless sailing experiences for cruise lines and passengers.

Deltamarin wins design contract for La Méridionale's new ropax vessel

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 05 December 2023 05 December 2023

Deltamarin has signed a contract with China Merchants Jinling shipyard (Weihai) for the approval and detail design of La Méridionale’s upcoming ro-pax vessel project. As a part of the contract, Deltamarin will be responsible for providing both the approval and detail design services for the construction of the new ro-pax vessel pair. Deltamarin has earlier provided the shipyard with consultancy and contract design services on the project.

Expected for delivery in early 2027 from China’s CMI Jinling Weihai yard, the vessels will each accommodate 1,000 passengers across 264 cabins in seven categories, including 21 luxury cabins with balconies.

With dimensions of 180 meters in length and 30.8 meters in width, the vessels will operate on two engines with a combined output of 21,000 kW. While primarily using conventional LNG, the engines include multi-fuel capabilities, accommodating future adoption of biogas and synthetic methane.

Moreover, the integration of a 13 MWh battery pack will enable zero-emission capabilities while in port – a significant advantage, especially at the port in Corsica, given the limited availability of shore power solutions.

Deltamarin and Weihai shipyard have a long history of collaboration and experience in working together, showcased in prior projects such as the Superstar ro-pax project for Finnlines, E-Flexer ro-pax vessels for Swedish Stena Line and the Rosa dei Venti ro-ro vessel for Italian Giovanni Visentini Trasporti Fluviomarittimi.

Bolidt takes the floor as luxury cruise orders rise

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 05 December 2023 05 December 2023

Leading resin applications specialist Bolidt has reinforced its position in a resurgent luxury cruise market, in a series of orders from both new and established operators.

With estimates that the luxury cruise segment is on course to accommodate over 1 million guests this year, increasing to 1.5 million by 2030, Bolidt has reported a significant rise in demand for its decking solutions from new and established luxury cruise lines alike.

The market has come a long way since demand patterns were set by global guest numbers amounting to 600,000 in 2019, but Bolidt adds that owners continue to seek the highest standards in aesthetics, performance, and sustainability from its resin applications.

Highlights include Silver Nova, the latest vessel from Silversea Cruises, which embarked on its maiden voyage earlier this year following delivery by Meyer Werft. The 243-metre vessel showcases an innovative asymmetrical deck layout, for which Bolidt supplied its versatile, environmentally-responsible solution, Bolideck Future Teak, as well as stone-effect flooring and prefabricated parts including benches and steps. In addition, as part of recent retrofit works, Bolidt refurbished all decks across the existing Silversea fleet.

Ritz-Carlton, a relatively new entrant into the luxury cruise segment, has also called on Bolidt’s expertise in providing and installing its industry-leading products for high-end passenger vessels. Having supplied Future Teak and Bolideck Select Soft for the 2022-launched Ritz-Carlton Evrima, Bolidt has followed up with the same products for Ritz-Carlton’s forthcoming ship Ilma – due delivery from Chantiers de l’Atlantique for the 2024 cruise season. The ship’s sports court, jogging track, and pool deck are among the areas benefiting from the solutions’ durability and non-slip properties.

Another hospitality group to have recently entered the luxury cruise market is Accor, whose sailing yacht, Orient Express Silenseas, will be the largest of its kind upon delivery – again by Chantiers de l’Atlantique – in 2026. The 220-metre vessel will combine sophistication and sustainability, with Bolideck Future Teak contributing to both aspects.

“The luxury cruise segment continues to be a highly significant market for Bolidt, and as established participants grow and new players emerge, demand for our products from luxury operators is stronger than ever,” said Jacco van Overbeek, Director Maritime, Bolidt. “These operators and their customers have exceptionally high standards in regard to style and the environment, so it is encouraging to see Future Teak, in particular, confirm its position as the decking solution of choice.”

Elsewhere in the luxury cruise segment, Bolidt decking is on board both Crystal Cruises vessels, Crystal Serenity and Symphony, which re-entered service this year under the new ownership of A&K Travel Group. Bolidt systems also feature throughout Celebrity Cruises’ fleet of luxury Galapagos expedition vessels: Celebrity Flora, Xpedition, and Xploration.

Photo: The Marquee on the Silver Nova. Credit: Teijo Niemela