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Evac Optima 7 wins two Red Dot Awards for Product Design and Sustainability Design

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 25 June 2025 25 June 2025

Evac Group has announced that its newest generation vacuum toilet, Evac Optima 7, has been awarded two prestigious Red Dot Awards - one for Product Design and one for Sustainability Design. These accolades celebrate Evac’s leadership in creating innovative, sustainable sanitation solutions for the maritime industry.

Developed in collaboration with the renowned design agency Pentagon Design, the Evac Optima 7 sets a new benchmark for comfort, aesthetics, and eco-efficiency. It features a soft-close mechanism and hidden fixings for a sleek, seamless aesthetic, and operates at just 72 dB – quieter than many traditional models. Its rimless, antimicrobial design eliminates 99.99% of surface bacteria. Evac Optima 7 represents the next evolution in onboard sanitation – uniting modern engineering with timeless Nordic design.

Optima 7 is designed to meet the needs of cruise ships, and is equally well-suited for other passenger vessels, ferries, and yachts, offering the performance, reliability, and sustainability that maritime operators require.

Jari-Petri Voutilainen, Senior Designer at Pentagon Design said, "When we began this project, the goal was simple: to blend cutting-edge vacuum technology with timeless Nordic design. Winning two Red Dot Awards confirms our belief that great design should not only elevate user experience but also contribute to a more sustainable world."

For Evac, the product reflects decades of expertise, with over 1 million vacuum toilets delivered since 1979. Optima 7 was engineered to meet the rising demands for water-saving, easy-to-maintain, and hygienic solutions – using only 1.2 liters of freshwater per flush.

Robin Mérus, Strategic Account Director at Evac Group said, “We knew from the start we were not launching just another vacuum toilet. We were introducing a flagship – one that delivers quiet comfort, antimicrobial protection, effortless installation, and a modern aesthetic. It’s everything our customers value, built into one seamless experience.”

The design process was as rigorous as it was collaborative. The engineering team at Evac worked across disciplines to ensure performance was never compromised by design – and vice versa.

Lauri Aalto, Product Line Manager at Evac Group commented, “With Evac Optima 7, we’ve reached a new milestone. It took countless tests and prototypes to achieve rimless flushing at such low water consumption while simplifying installation and maintenance. These awards are not only a recognition of what we’ve accomplished – they’re fuel for us to keep pushing boundaries.”

Evac Optima 7 is coming soon to cruise ships setting sail in 2027 and 2028.

Deltamarin wins basic and detail design contract for six pioneering ropax vessels for Grimaldi Lines

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 25 June 2025 25 June 2025

Deltamarin has signed a design and engineering contract with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai) for six new RoPax vessels ordered by the Grimaldi Group.

The agreement includes basic and detail design for the “Next Generation Med” class vessels, which will be deployed across key Mediterranean routes under the Grimaldi Lines and Minoan Lines brands.

Of the six vessels, four will sail under the Italian flag and be operated under the Grimaldi Lines brand, while two will be registered under the Greek flag and operated by Grimaldi’s subsidiary Minoan Lines. All six ships are set to elevate maritime transport in the Mediterranean through a unique combination of high freight and passenger capacity, next-generation environmental performance, and enhanced onboard experience.

Each 229-meter vessel will feature 3,300 lane meters for rolling freight, space for over 300 passenger vehicles, and capacity for up to 2,500 passengers. Accommodation includes more than 300 cabins for over 1,200 guests.

The vessels will be powered by engines capable of running on methanol – making them the first ships in the Mediterranean designed specifically for this alternative fuel. Additional green technologies include e.g. shore power readiness, silicon-based hull coatings, optimized hull and propeller designs, and advanced onboard power management systems. These features will collectively reduce CO₂ emissions per cargo unit by more than 50% compared to current vessels operating on similar routes.

The design work will begin at Deltamarin immediately with vessel deliveries scheduled between 2028 and 2030.

RINA acquires Finland-based Foreship

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 18 June 2025 18 June 2025

RINA, the multinational engineering consultancy, inspection and certification group, has acquired the entire share capital of Foreship, a renowned Finnish company specialising in naval architecture and marine engineering, from Vaaka Partners and company’s managers. The acquisition marks a further expansion of RINA’s marine engineering consulting offering worldwide, while strengthening its presence in Northern Europe.

Foreship, with 2024 revenues of €15.2 million is headquartered in Helsinki and employs over 90 professionals across eight offices globally, including the USA, UK and Estonia. The company is best known for its high-profile work in cruise ship design, energy-efficient vessel innovations, and sustainable marine technologies. Its unique and distinctive experience in naval architecture offers high synergies within RINA Consulting and opportunities to increase market share in the maritime consultancy sector, particularly in complex retrofits, new fuel integrations, and digital transformation.

“Foreship offers unique competence which is highly appreciated by its clients,” said Ugo Salerno, Executive Chairman of RINA. “It brings an exceptional track record and a depth of expertise in naval architecture that complements our own consulting engineering capabilities. Together, on a shared path of growth, we will deliver even greater value to the global shipping industry, advancing sustainability, digital innovation and ship lifecycle services”.

“We are proud to welcome into our group a company that shares our core values of independence, innovation, and engineering excellence” said Carlo Luzzatto, CEO of RINA. “This acquisition aligns with our strategic plan to become an increasingly essential reference point for our clients, supporting them with our broad-based knowledge. Foreship’s solid reputation and global customer base, including major cruise lines and shipping companies, make it a natural fit for our fast-growing marine consulting business. Foreship reputation as a trusted independent advisor is seen as a core asset that RINA aims to preserve and enhance.”

Lauri Haavisto, CEO of Foreship, commented, “Foreship’s vision is to lead in sustainable passenger ship conversions, new builds, and consultancy. Joining forces with a global partner like RINA will accelerate our growth, expand our knowledge, and strengthen our client relationships, while continuing to foster the close collaboration we value.”

In line with RINA’s governance and organizational model, Foreship operations will be part of RINA Consulting.

Lazard assisted RINA as financial advisor. RINA was also supported by Bain & Company, which assisted RINA in the commercial due diligence, and by PwC, which assisted in the financial and tax due diligence. Borenius Attorneys acted as legal counsel to RINA in connection with the transaction.

Bolidt acquires Boteka to consolidate leading position in cruise industry

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 11 June 2025 11 June 2025

Bolidt has acquired a majority stake in Florida-based Boteka, in a move intended to consolidate Bolidt’s leading position in the global cruise industry.

As a specialist in prefabricated elements for cruise ships, Boteka has worked exclusively with Bolidt products during a 14-year relationship that has seen the two parties serve major operators including Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Group, and Celebrity Cruises. The collaboration has covered both newbuild and retrofit projects.

In line with Bolidt’s ‘all-under-one-roof’ principle, the acquisition will allow the Dutch company to accelerate its development of custom-made solutions while enhancing its efficiency, planning, and flexibility in cruise ship projects. It also strengthens Bolidt’s presence in the United States and increases its manufacturing capacity with an additional production facility in Miami.

“We are delighted to welcome Boteka into the Bolidt Group as we move forward with our strategy for growth – expanding our portfolio to provide total solutions for our clients,” said Rientz-Willem Bol, CEO of Bolidt. “Boteka possesses considerable technical expertise and customer insight that can inspire our R&D efforts, further optimise internal processes, enhance employee learning, and provide added value for our global cruise clients.”

Under the terms of the expanded cooperation, Boteka will continue to develop prefabricated synthetic elements at the Miami production facility and oversee their installation, inspection, and measurement on board the vessel, while Bolidt remains exclusively responsible for sales activities.

Lloyd's Register signs strategic cooperation framework agreement with China Cruises

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 09 June 2025 09 June 2025

Following its full classification services for Adora Magic City, China’s first domestically built large luxury cruise ship, LR has entered strategic cooperation with China Cruises, leveraging both local project experience and global technical expertise.

With a market share exceeding 40% in the global fleet of operating and newly built large cruise ships, LR has maintained its leading position in the industry for nearly two decades.

LR operates four Cruise Centres of Expertise in China, the UK, Italy, and the US, and has a global team of over 220 dedicated cruise surveyors, providing end-to-end technical support throughout the design, construction, operation, and management phases.

Francesco Ruisi, VP Global Passenger Ship Segment Director at LR, said: “By drawing on LR’s global experience and technical expertise in the cruise sector, we aim to support China’s independent development and construction of large cruise ships. We will contribute to the integrated growth of the cruise industry supply chain, and play an active role in helping China’s cruise sector advance toward high-end global positioning with a firm commitment to green and sustainable development.”

Li Ming, General Manager of China Cruises and Chairman of Adora Cruise, said: “We are pleased to establish a strategic partnership with Lloyd’s Register. This collaboration will further strengthen our technical capabilities and international operations, while fostering deeper cooperation in cruise safety, sustainability, and technological innovation.”