Shiprepair & Maintenance: 4th Quarter 2019
As a result of a €50 million (US$55 million) contract signed this September, Costa Cruises’ Costa neoRiviera will undergo a substantial refit and rebranding exercise at the San Giorgio del Porto (SGdP) shipyard in Genoa, prior to redelivery to Germany’s Aida Cruises as AIDAmira. The extensive programme of work is due to be carried out over the month of November this year.
Speaking at the contract signing, Ferdinando Garrè, chief executive of SGdP, said the project reflected confidence in the know-how and technical skills of the Genoese shipyard sector and of San Giorgio del Porto in particular, despite, “the many infrastructure-related difficulties that continue to prevent the full development of shiprepair and refitting activities.” He continued: “Costa’s decision to bring a job of this magnitude to Genoa could not be taken for granted and for this we are grateful to the company.”
Also starting in November is another significant passenger ship refit, involving the Grimaldi group ro-pax Forza. The vessel is expected to stay at SGdP in Genoa for 35 days, during which time open-loop, hybrid ready scrubbers will be installed onboard. A sistership, Tenacia, will follow in January 2020 for a similar programme of work. While the scrubber retrofits are being carried out, SGdP will also undertake general drydocking repairs and modifications to the ships systems.
Earlier this year SGdP completed work on another ferry, the Balearia-operated Jaume III. The main focus of this project was the removal of the vessel’s existing engines, using the yard’s floating crane, and replacing them with Caterpillar C280 units. The yard modified the aluminium main engine foundations; renewed and modified the main engine stainless steel piping; and renewed all the ship’s electric and automation systems. At the same time the Wärtsilä waterjets were overhauled while the high-speed ferry was in drydock; T-foil rudders were installed; and repairs to a number of the hull’s aluminium plates were carried out. Other work included the installation of new fire dampers and ventilation fans, and ultra-high pressure washing of the underwater areas and the subsequent application of silicone paint.
Notable projects carried out so far this year out at SGdP Naples’ sister facility in France, Chantier Naval de Marseille (CNdM), have included refits to the cruise ships Oceania Riviera and MSC Fantasia, both of which required scrubber installations. The yard has also completed a significant repair and maintenance programme on the LNG carrier, Global Energy. Cruise ship activity is expected to make up a significant part of CNdM’s workload for the next few months, with four cruise ships due to dock at the Marseille shipyard before the end of the year.
CNdM has recently further upgraded its Drydock 10 facility with the installation of a new crane, representing an investment of around €2.7 million (US$2.9 million).
Overall, SGdP says it expects to handle a combined total of more than 90 shiprepair and refit projects at its Naples and Marseille facilities this year. Garrè adds: “Passenger vessels represent the biggest single sector for our yards because of their strategic location close to key ferry and cruise ship ports of call. CNdM in particular is geared up to handle the increased number, and greater size of cruise ships operating in the Mediterranean. But we will not just focus on passenger ships and plan to increase our presence in the LNG and offshore sectors as well.”
