Products & services

Bolideck Future Teak Signature Premium delivers full deck on authenticity

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 12 October 2025 12 October 2025

In the 20 years since its market launch, Bolideck Future Teak has established itself as the market-leading synthetic alternative to natural teak - a wood that remains as durable and elegant as ever, but whose use at scale is no longer sustainable.

Over two decades, demand for Future Teak has grown with the cruise industry, serving its increasing focus on sustainable materials while delivering the aesthetics of the real thing, new standard of performance at a fraction of the weight.

But maintaining market leadership demands responsiveness to evolving expectations. Accordingly, the recently launched Bolideck Future Teak Signature Premium raises the bar on authenticity even higher. The new solution still saves weight – and trees – compared to real teak decking, but it also achieves a more natural look and feel than the original Future Teak.

Work on the Signature line began when Accor Group luxury travel brand Orient Express approached Bolidt seeking the ideal decking system for the forthcoming Orient Express Corinthian, which is due to enter service in 2026 as the largest sailing yacht in the world. For a vessel offering the ultimate in luxury cruising, Orient Express and shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique envisaged a product that would match the functionality and environmental benefits of Future Teak while achieving an even closer resemblance to real teak wood.

When Bolidt unveiled its latest innovation at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami in April 2025, six out of 10 invited to inspect the product mistook it for genuine teak. So close is the solution’s resemblance to the real thing that Bolidt expects Captains of vessels fitted with the premium decking system to receive complaints about having too much wood on board.

Alongside its greater authenticity, Signature Premium offers improved colour stability than its predecessor and greater resistance to the fading effects of prolonged UV exposure. The addition of a new pigment also means that the reimagined decking system is 10–12 °C cooler than real teak, making it more comfortable for guests to walk barefoot on deck in warm, sunny weather.

In addition. Bolideck Future Teak Signature Premium maintains its natural appearance when wet, and given the teak effect runs all the way through the material, it can be sanded multiple times without losing its A-grade look and feel.
Applied thinking

In a research and development initiative carried out over 18 months, Bolidt also devised and refined a controlled application technique to produce the A-grade teak effect from a unique blend of colours. It identified the right tools to facilitate precise pouring and achieved the desired technical characteristics through rigorous testing at various temperatures. Maintaining constant dialogue with its project partners, it shared samples for approval before producing a series of mock-ups in house and at the shipyard.

One challenge came when Chantiers de l’Atlantique requested irregular shapes in the decking design. To maintain Signature Premium’s intricate aesthetics across acute angles and curves, the material must be poured in a way that ensures precise alignment with the cutting pattern. The special methods and new tools were introduced to create different curves in both small and large spaces, and their application require technicians to undertake comprehensive training sessions covering mixing, pouring, and cutting processes.

Other developments have also been taken on board that benefit condition and longevity. Thanks to the application of Bolidt Sealer X, a new transparent protective layer featuring hydro- and oleophobic properties, Signature Premium is easy to clean, and stains are less visible. By enhancing contrast, Sealer X immediately reveals the material’s natural colour, speeding up a process that would otherwise involve several rounds of cleaning and sustained exposure to sea water and sunlight to ensure readiness from installation.

Hard work pays off

For Bolidt, the hard work is already paying off. With installation on board Corinthian due for completion by the end of 2025, Signature Premium is turning heads throughout the cruise and yachting industries, while ferry companies are also showing strong interest in the new system.

Even at this early stage, Bolidt is exploring next steps in the product’s development. The potential integration of energy-generation and sensor technologies promises environmental and commercial benefits for cruise and ferry operators. Meanwhile, LEDs could offer aesthetic and practical advantages, with adjustable lighting acting as both a mood setter in hospitality venues and a flexible line marker for sports courts and running tracks.

Bolidt is also looking to exploit Signature Premium’s inherent effectiveness as an insulator to develop a heating solution for use on cold-climate voyages. By integrating a wiring system, the company would give operators the power to heat or cool their decks at will to account for local climate, season, and time of day.

Already, however, the company considers the launch of Bolideck Future Teak Signature Premium as signalling a new era for passenger ship decking – one where owners need no longer feel there is a trade-off between high-end style and environmental preservation. In addition to ticking both of boxes, Signature Premium provides a blank canvas for further innovation, which Bolidt intends to take full advantage of in the years to come.

By Gerben Smit, Operations Director, Bolidt

MXP Digital Customer Journey APP adds chat for easy onboard guest communication

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 12 October 2025 12 October 2025

The MXP365 digital experience makes onboard communication effortless. Guests connect through one-on-one or group chats with family, friends, or fellow travelers. The chat feature makes it simple for guests to coordinate and share plans throughout the cruise, enhancing the onboard experience.

Key Benefits for cruise lines:
– Enhanced guest experience - digital communication strengthens community and creates a seamless customer journey
– Easy coordination - guests can easily coordinate times and meeting points, share plans, and connect during the cruise
– Private chat groups - family, friends, or fellow travelers stay connected in dedicated group chats with full privacy
– eal-time updates - guests are automatically notified of new chats

With MXP iTV, the most feature-rich system in the industry, chats can even be viewed and continued directly on the cabin TV.

With the MXP365 Digital Guest Journey, available in the cloud and as an on-premise solution, all guest-facing services are united in one platform. The platform combines the mobile app, web portal, self-ordering kiosks, digital signage, and iTV – delivering a powerful, integrated experience.

MXP launches next-level Itinerary Planner with automatic waypoints

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 30 September 2025 30 September 2025

MXP expands the MXP Enterprise Software Platform with a new Visual Itinerary Planner. By selecting the next port, all waypoints are auto-generated. Distances between ports, speed and fuel consumption are automatically calculated. The itinerary is visualized on a digital chart.

Waypoints are provided through an industry-leading Routing API following recognized nautical standards, ensuring
accuracy and reliability.

Key Benefits:
– Automatic waypoint data maintenance
– Easy itinerary planning directly on a digital map with interactive visualization
– Automatic fuel budget calculation
– Automatic distance and speed calculations
– Forecasts for costs, revenues, ratings, and emission KPIs

Planners can now optimize speed to get the best possible fuel consumption, paired with the best guest destination experience for departure and arrival times.

Philipp Henkelmann, Vice President Deployment & Destination Experience, emphasizes: “Our goal is to simplify itinerary planning and decision-making. MXP is the most advanced planning tool for your marine operations.”

Windstar Cruises selects WMS for onboard connectivity on the Star Seeker

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 07 October 2025 07 October 2025

WMS, the premier global provider of cruise wireless connectivity, has announced that Windstar Cruises, a leading boutique cruise line, will now offer its Cellular at Sea service onboard the new Star Seeker launching in December 2025.

“WMS is proud to deliver wireless connectivity to the Windstar Star Seeker given our shared commitment to innovating in the cruise industry,” said Brent Horwitz, Chief Customer Engagement Officer, WMS. “Our partnership with Windstar is focused on ensuring their very best passenger and crew experience, through the latest cellular connectivity technology. Cellular at Sea is ideal for those who need to stay in touch through calls and texting, as well as using Internet applications such as email and secure connectivity for mobile banking, medical portal access, and other two-factor authentication applications. Our goal is to provide business value to the cruise line and to complement ship Wi-Fi services.”

Lieven Van Daele, Director of Guest Experiences, Windstar Cruises said, “Cellular at Sea offers an alternative option for guests to stay connected, in addition to the regular onboard Wi-Fi Internet. This service ensures that guests can maintain their connectivity throughout their voyage, providing convenience and flexibility for all their communication needs. We are pleased to offer Cellular at Sea across our fleet, including our new beautiful Star Seeker joining us in December 2025.”

WMS launched the first cruise ship wireless network more than 20 years ago. It was the first to offer 3G, 4G, and now 5G connectivity at sea. WMS also was the first to integrate with low Earth orbit satellite technology, including Starlink. WMS leverages 400+ global roaming partnerships, and unmatched wireless network design and quality, delivering connectivity at sea and on land.

Aboa Mare invests in an advanced engine room simulator delivered by Kongsberg Maritime

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 30 September 2025 30 September 2025

Aboa Mare strengthens its position as a leading maritime training provider, by investing in a state-of-the-art K-Sim Engine Full Mission and Desktop Simulator system from Kongsberg Maritime.

The delivery is set to be completed in the first quarter of 2026 and will include some of the most advanced simulator models available, comprising both conventional and next-generation propulsion technologies, such as hybrid, battery, dual-fuel, LNG and methanol-fuelled engines. This guarantees that Aboa Mare’s students and professional seafarers will receive practical training that aligns with the global maritime industry’s green transition.

Supporting the green transition in maritime training

This delivery represents one of the most modern simulator systems ever installed in Finland and demonstrates Aboa Mare’s commitment to supporting maritime education as the industry undergoes a fundamental shift toward sustainability.

“We are committed to delivering high-quality training that reflects the latest developments in maritime operations,” says Thomas Lundberg, Simulator Manager, Aboa Mare. “The collaboration with Kongsberg enables us to provide realistic and future-oriented learning environments. By integrating the latest propulsion technologies into our training, we are ensuring that our students and customers are well prepared to contribute to the industry’s green transition.

“The maritime sector is moving rapidly toward greener operations, and training plays a critical role in ensuring this transition is both safe and effective,” says Are Føllesdal Tjønn, Managing Director, Maritime Simulation, Kongsberg Maritime. “With the advanced K-Sim Engine simulator platform, Aboa Mare will be able to provide future mariners with the knowledge and experience they need to operate next-generation vessels using hybrid, dual-fuel, and methanol technologies. We are proud to partner with Aboa Mare in this important step toward building a more sustainable maritime future.”

The K-Sim Engine simulator system is fully compliant with STCW requirements and DNV standard ST-0033 and will be delivered with DNV Class A & C certification, ensuring the highest levels of quality and realism in maritime training. The simulator will be the first at Aboa Mare with DNV classification, providing a trusted guarantee of quality and reliability for customers and students.

The partnership between Kongsberg Maritime and Aboa Mare highlights a shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and excellence in maritime education and training.