V.Delta proudly contributed to minimize fire risk in machinery spaces in several cruise ships by applying experience and knowledge skills matured from V.Ships managed vessels. V.Delta surveyors’ team went onboard on over 20 cruise vessels, more than 1,600,000 GT total tonnage, together with Class representatives and inspected engine room spaces in order to identify every potential source of ignition. Pipelines and associated fittings of the fuel oil, marine...

V.Delta, having the honour to be the coordinator of the EC-funded project REFRESH, successfully hosted the recently held kick-off meeting in Monaco.   This is a very prestigious project which involves 19 members from various sectors of shipping including ship operators, shipyards, classification societies, universities, R&D institutions, local authorities, associations and consultants. REFRESH’s focus is on the retro-fitting of existing ships to improve...

The Artemis ex Royal Princess entered the management of V.Ships Leisure on 29th April and is currently being converted by V.Delta prior to the vessel’s inaugural cruise as the Artania at the end of May. The Artania will operate for Phoenix Reisen, the leading German operator for whom V.Ships Leisure already manages the Albatros and Amadea. Our relationship with Phoenix Reisen goes back a long way — to1993 when Phoenix time chartered the Albatros  which...

V.Delta was appointed by Iberojet Cruceros to supervise the major refurbishment of the Grand Mistral,  47,000 ton cruise ship, carried out last April at the Yard Union Naval, in Barcelona. Among the various works, about 26 suites have been added in the after part, the  “speciality” restaurant has been enlarged, the buffet concept changed to distribution stations and expanded to the aft open deck, a new grill and pizzeria have been created on the pool...

Andrea Zito, COO of V.Ships Leisure, was a speaker at the Seatrade Europe conference & exhibition which took place recently in Hamburg. He participated in the panel “Regulation: Challenges for Shipping” which focused on the maintenance of environmental compliance while monitoring operating costs. The main subject discussed during this important session at Europe’s premier cruise industry gathering was the need for consistency of environmental regulations,...

V.Delta has been appointed by Marine Atlantic Inc to provide Project Management and Marine Technical Support Activities in relation to the conversion of the two RoRo passenger ferries, the Stena Trader and Stena Traveller. The ferries, currently sailing between Hoek van Holland and Killingholme in the UK, will be chartered by Stena RoRo to Marine Atlantic under a five-year agreement. Marine Atlantic is the Canadian Federal Crown Corporation responsible for the...

V.DELTA: KEEPING IN TRIM   The fourth in our occasional series of VNF called ‘I didn’t know you did that’ looks at how V.Delta helps clients to save energy and highlights a recent contract win.   Although bunker prices are below the dizzy heights reached during 2008, the need to conserve energy for economic or environmental compliance reasons is never far from the top of a shipowner/operator’s agenda. This is particularly true of the passenger...