Products & services

Bolidt ramps up deliveries for cruise industry return

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 12 November 2020 12 November 2020

The lifting of the CDC’s ‘No-Sail Order’ puts cruise shipbuilding back on track and activities at resin applications specialist Bolidt have quickly ramped up in response.

"In what represents a significant step forward for the cruise industry, the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have given the green light for a phased resumption of passenger ship operations in the United States. Several cruise lines are now planning to relaunch in December, while others are set to follow in early 2021," Bolidt says in a statement.

With owners keen to deliver the best possible cruise experience when full operations resume, renewal and construction projects placed on hold at the height of the pandemic are under way. For flooring and decking innovator Bolidt, demand is on the rise once more.

“Initially, the coronavirus outbreak had an impact on our work in the cruise sector,” says Jacco van Overbeek, Director Maritime, Bolidt. “But ever since the cruise lines began preparing for a new chapter, our expertise has remained in high demand: operators in various segments of the sector and from around the world have continued to discuss projects with us, and we are working hard to support their ambitions.”

Bolidt will soon begin refit works on Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Breakaway and Getaway, scheduled in drydock early next year to follow current refit of Epic, all of which are taking place in Marseille - and have recently completed projects with Marella Cruises’ Discovery and Marella Explorer 2. However, the majority of ongoing contracts, explains van Overbeek, have involved newbuilds, including expedition ships, luxury passenger ships and river cruise vessels.

“In the expedition segment, we have completed the first of two orders for Lindblad Expeditions, supplying the sustainable Bolideck® Future Teak for all outdoor decks,” says Van Overbeek. Future Teak will also feature on a series of luxury polar expedition ships from Portuguese company Mystic Cruises, he adds. “We supplied 2019’s World Explorer and will deliver the same system to its four sister ships, the first of which has just been delivered, and the second scheduled for completion early next year.”

Elsewhere, Bolidt’s supply of solutions to the new SunStone expedition vessel Ocean Explorer was its first project involving a newbuild passenger ship in China. Installation work on Explorer’s sister ship Odyssey will begin shortly.

Meanwhile, in the luxury segment, Bolidt has supplied the recently completed Saga Spirit of Adventure with Bolideck Future Teak, Select Hard and Select Soft. The vessel’s lido deck, featuring Future Teak, recently won an award for its retro design. “We are delivering the same products to the innovative MSC Virtuosa, as well as to Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas, currently under construction. Following this, we will be working on the world’s largest cruise ship, Wonder of the Seas which is due for delivery next year, Van Overbeek reports. Another recent MSC order will see Bolidt fit its new ‘World Class’ series with Bolideck Select Soft Teak Effect and Future Teak.

In river cruising, Bolidt’s relationship with Viking River Cruises remains strong. “We installed Bolidt solutions on a number of recently delivered vessels in Viking’s Longships and Seine fleets, and we will now provide decking for two more Viking vessels due to be constructed in Alexandria, Egypt for the Egyptian market,” says Van Overbeek.

Bolidt’s sustained commitment to the cruise sector is reflected in its decision to keep the doors to its Innovation Center open throughout the pandemic. Home to the industry’s most high-tech research and development facilities, the Center has remained operational in recent months, allowing cruise owners to pay virtual visits and collaborate with Bolidt experts and other industry stakeholders on both new ideas and ongoing projects.

“Our Innovation Center is a crucial part of our offering as a design enabler,” says Van Overbeek. “It allows us to work closely with clients and partners to respond to changing circumstances and prepare for incoming regulations. We felt it was important to keep the Center open and show cruise operators that we were ready to support them through the challenges posed by this new chapter.”

Intercruises and Vikand partner to provide global port medical network

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 03 November 2020 03 November 2020

Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services – an experienced global business offering ground handling and port operations services to the cruise industry, is partnering with Vikand Solutions – a global maritime medical operations and healthcare solutions provider – to develop a Global Port Medical Network.

The Global Port Medical Network will help in the response to the Covid-19 pandemic by supporting the safe return to service of the cruise and wider maritime industry. With local presence in ports around the world, Intercruises will use the collective local knowledge and relationships of its team to collate key information about medical facilities in different locations. This information will populate a continually evolving database managed by the Vikand team, who will also work with Intercruises in defining and implementing medical protocols according to destination resources.

“We are proud to have already played a role in the safe return to cruising, but we must continue to take actions that will support this process,” states Olga Piqueras, Intercruises Managing Director. “By working with Vikand on this initiative we are using Intercruises’ local presence and relationships to better support our cruise line clients and the communities in which we work.”

The Global Port Medical Network will aid cruise businesses in adhering to protocols set forth by the EU Healthy Gateways commission and other national health authorities. These require cruise operators to have agreements in place with local health agencies and/or health care providers, ensuring that ambulance and medical care can be provided for Covid-19 cases.

“A first partnership within Vikand’s broader Vikand Medical Network (VMN), the Global Port Medical Network we’ve designed with Intercruises is a comprehensive system of destination medical services and providers that have existing port agency working relationships. With this tool, we can ensure there are medical facilities prepared to assist if needed, further strengthening our clients’ safe return to service, and giving them and their guests peace of mind,” says Peter Hult, Vikand CEO. “The initiative with Intercruises means we can truly say that we are ready to provide support in situations where there are potential shipboard Covid-19 cases.”

Pictures from top to bottom: Olga Piqueras and Peter Hult

SeaDream Yacht Club safely completes first voyage utilizing Altapure AP-4 disinfectant system provided by BioHiTech as part of Its Covid-19 safety protocols for cruising

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 30 October 2020 30 October 2020

BioHiTech Global, Inc., a sustainable technology and services company, announced today that the SeaDream Yacht Club completed its first voyage utilizing the Altapure AP-4™ high-level disinfectant system provided by BioHiTech as part of its Covid-19 safety protocols for cruising.

The SeaDream I yacht completed a 15-day cruise to Barbados where the Altapure AP-4 was utilized to provide high-level disinfection throughout the ship, including guest and crew cabins as well as dining areas, health facilities and other common areas. The SeaDream I will be sailing weekly out of Bridgetown, Barbados with the Altapure AP-4 onboard to ensure the highest level of disinfection for the safety of its passengers and crew.

"SeaDream is leading by example, showing the rest of the cruise industry how to resume operations with a safety-first mentality that will only enhance their luxury cruise experience," said Frank E. Celli, CEO of BioHiTech. "Passengers and crew can feel more at ease when common areas and cabins are regularly disinfected to a hospital-grade level. When combined with other safety protocols, SeaDream is creating a road map for others in the industry to follow to help bring back this important industry and we look forward to being a part of it."

The Altapure AP-4™ is an enhanced, automated and touchless high-level disinfection sub-micron aerosol system launched in 2017 that provides a safe process and rapid elimination of spores, viruses, and vegetative bacteria, such as, but not limited to: Covid-19, Acinetobacter baumanii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, VRE, MRSA, Bacillus atrophaeus, Geobacillus stearothermophilus, Polio virus, C. auris and Clostridium difficile (C. difficile). Extensive research and development alongside Harris Corporation, formerly ITT Exelis, a top-tier global aerospace, defense, and information solutions company, resulted in the creation of a very unique and patented aerosol generation technology that when coupled with the liquid agent Altacare®, a reagent grade peracetic acid solution, yields rapid and unparalleled results for high level disinfection. Altapure is committed to providing its customers with the highest quality products and processes in the marketplace that are safe to use and are environmentally friendly. All of Altapure's products are engineered, manufactured, and assembled in the U.S.

Wärtsilä’s strong position in cruise sector enhanced with new orders

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 03 November 2020 03 November 2020

The technology group Wärtsilä continues to work closely with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the supply of a broad range of solutions to be installed in a number of cruise ships currently being built by the yard. The latest orders are for complete waste treatment systems and fresh water generators for two vessels – order placed in July 2020 – and for the entertainment systems for two new series of ships totalling eight vessels in all, the first orders for which were placed with Wärtsilä in Q1 2020. In August 2020 Wärtsilä has been additionally contracted for a complete technological package supply for other two vessels, including Wärtsilä 46F engines, selective catalytic reduction (SCR) solutions, hybrid scrubbers, automation, navigation & local entertainment systems, low location lights, valves, public address & general alarm system. All these ships are owned by different cruise operators.

The waste treatment solution includes the handling of both wet and dry waste. Wet waste is treated with Wärtsilä’s Membrane Bioreactor technology and includes upstream handling that meets and surpasses the latest IMO regulations. The dry waste package to be supplied will be the first for a large cruise vessel to incorporate Wärtsilä’s Micro Auto Gasification System (MAGS), a novel technology that converts waste to energy allowing the unit to be fuelled by synthesis gas from the waste. This is an eco-friendly solution that creates significantly lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions than conventional incinerators, thus meeting sustainability targets set by the ships’ owner.

The Wärtsilä entertainment systems have been designed by Wärtsilä to provide the highest level of quality and performance to ensure the ultimate passenger experience. For these new ships, Wärtsilä Entertainment will not only supply turnkey entertainment systems, but also LED architectural lighting, as well as the Public Address and General Alarm systems.

“We are very familiar with Wärtsilä’s products and solutions, and are extremely confident that they are the right choice for these exciting new vessels. The cruise industry is setting the pace in sustainable shipping, while the ability to create a high quality passenger experience is constantly improving. We feel that Wärtsilä is contributing heavily in both these areas,” says Massimo Costa, VP Purchasing, Fincantieri.

“These latest contract awards represent a further step in the building of a strong relationship with Fincantieri to provide the cruise industry with the latest and most efficient technological solutions,” says Giovanni Paladino, Key Account Manager, Wärtsilä Marine.

The waste treatment systems are scheduled for delivery in Q4 2021. The entertainment systems will be delivered in line with the vessels’ delivery dates commencing in 2022.

Earlier, in 2019, Wärtsilä received orders from Fincantieri for twenty Wärtsilä 46DF dual-fuel engines, twenty Wärtsilä 46F engines, eight Wärtsilä LNGPac fuel storage, supply and control systems, two Wärtsilä hybrid scrubber systems, as well as Wärtsilä Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) solutions, and Wärtsilä gas valve units for the cruise ships under construction at the yard.

ABB delivers shore connection technology for Viking Line’s ferry

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 22 October 2020 22 October 2020

ABB Marine & Ports latest shore connection technology is ensuring that calls by the passenger ferry Viking XPRS at Estonia’s Port of Tallinn are made quietly, efficiently and emissions-free. The well-known ferry, built in 2008, is deployed on the 2.5-hour route across the Baltic Sea between Tallinn, Estonia, and Helsinki, Finland, typically docking in the Estonian city twice a day.

Shore connection technology from ABB is designed for easy integration on all ship types and is controlled from the vessel itself, so that sequencing does not need intervention by any shore-based staff. Its sustainable in-harbor operation is especially valued at city ports such as Tallinn, which can have a significant impact on local air quality. Given the frequency of port calls made by Viking XPRS, shore connection will also save substantial amounts of fuel.

Earlier this year, Port of Tallinn installed the latest ABB shore power systems on five of its piers in Old City Harbour as part of the first shore power project in Estonia, enabling vessels with shore power technology to draw on land-based power in port.

“ABB’s shore connection is the latest initiative in our ongoing sustainability program,” said Johanna Boijer-Svahnström, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Viking Line. “Installing a shore connection system on board Viking XPRS, and having the shore power available in the Port of Tallinn will make a significant contribution to clean air within the port and its surroundings. We have successfully collaborated with ABB on a number of projects, and the fact that ABB provides installations aboard ship and in port, with prompt delivery and backed up by 24-hour support, has proved compelling.”

“It is an honor to support Viking Line in its journey toward sustainable shipping,” said Jyri Jusslin, SVP and Head of Service at ABB Marine & Ports. “Our shore connection is designed for all types of ships, with safety and simplicity in mind. This is also another key step in ensuring that Baltic Sea ports continue on their forward-looking path to eliminate emissions.”

ABB’s full scope of supply for Viking XPRS included a shore connection control board with three separate ship-shore communication links, ensuring fail-safe connections at all times. ABB has also provided the medium-voltage switchgear, an 11kV-400V transformer, a circuit breaker bypass arrangement for drydock connection, and a low-voltage main switchboard breaker. The delivery meets the new IEC-standard for shore connections, which demand higher levels of safety and environmental performance than ever before at the shipside. Commissioning was executed during the vessel’s normal operation.

As a leader in electric shipping and smart port technology, ABB Marine & Ports offers comprehensive shore connection solutions comprising state-of-the-art infrastructure both onshore and on board ship. Systems are compliant with international regulations and include high- and medium-voltage switchgears, transformers, frequency converters, control and protection systems, and more.