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 was under full management  by V.Ships Leisure.

The vessel, built in Finland for P&O Princess Cruises as Royal Princess in 1984, has a capacity of 1,200 lower berths in 600 cabins and is currently undergoing a conversion supervised by V.Delta, a joint venture between V.Ships and Deltamarin. Work on the vessel will include the addition of 100 balconies to the existing 152, increasing the balcony ratio to 42%. The vessel, once converted, will almost double the capacity of the operator.

More than 60 staff from SeaTec and SeaCom are currently onboard the vessel together with the full deck & engine crew preparing it for its inaugural cruise scheduled on the 28th May. The total budget for the conversion handled by V.Ships is in the region of Euro 10 million, in addition to Owner’s supply which is also of the same order.

For more details please contact Matteo Di Maio at:

mailto:Matteo.Dimaio@vdelta.net phone at +377 92 05 49 22.

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 ferry crossing between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland & Labrador. This deal between Stena Ro-Ro and Marine Atlantic is part of a long-term development programme to increase the fleet to meet growing demand from the local mining and offshore industries.

The vessels will be converted in accordance with  Marine Atlantic and Transport Canada’s requirements. These include a new accommodation block, a new bow thruster and a new bow opening.

V.Delta, the group’s specialist provider of passenger ship conversion services, will deliver approximately 10,000 man hours of labour to the conversion with various activities sub-contracted to other group companies such as V.Ships Leisure (both Monaco and Miami offices), SeaTec, SeaCom and V.Manpower. Over ten months, V.Delta will deploy five full-time and fifteen part-time employees and the Marine Service Division’s Quality Management system will be applied to underpin project delivery.

Matteo Di Maio, Managing Director of V.Delta, commenting on the new project stated: “We are very excited to commence this new project and look forward to collaborate with Marine Atlantic in order to complete the conversions as efficiently as possible. Encouragingly, Marine Atlantic is also keen to work with V.Delta and V.Ships on future initiatives beyond this specific project.”

The project is expected to be completed by the end of May, 2011.

For further information please contact:
Matteo Di Maio
Managing Director
V.Delta
matteo.dimaio@vdelta.net

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 sector where itineraries and schedules are often dictated by demanding customer requirements.

V.Delta works with clients in a systematic way to design and deliver bespoke energy conservation measures. Typically, this involves four phases of engagement. Starting with an initial assessment/benchmarking phase, a particular work programme will focus on securing a detailed understanding of the measures to prioritise, staff training, the potential ROI and implementation of agreed actions.

Since July 2008, V.Delta has worked in close association with ENIRAM (www.ENIRAM.fi) in the energy conservation field.  This Finnish company has developed a Dynamic Trimming Assistant (DTA) that enables ship officers to optimize the trim of their vessel at all times so as to minimize water resistance, decrease fuel consumption and reduce emissions. The system collects and presents data in real time which allows informed decision making.

The potential of the DTA product was demonstrated recently by the contracts awarded by Corsica Ferries, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line and other major players of the industry.

V.Delta will be responsible for supervising the upgrading of cabins and public areas. New suites will also be added on upper decks. A large part of the project entails the creation of a new block for the Spa and Observation Lounge.

The work will be carried at San Giorgio del Porto in Genoa from Oct. 27 to Nov. 23.

Next spring a similar refit is planned for sister vessel Silver Cloud, with V.Delta also serving as project manager.

V.Delta has recently completed an extensive study on Cold Ironing.

Cold ironing is the process of providing shore power to the pier allowing to shut off the ship’s gensets in order to reduce local gas and noise emission.

The study - focused on cruise ships – covered the main aspects to be considered in order to determine the relevance and the possibility of installing a cold ironing implant in a Mediterranean port. The first step was to analyze the approach of Classification Societies and Regulatory Bodies in terms of Industry Standards with reference to the shore connection techniques. To have a better understanding, a summary of International Ports already equipped with ‘cold ironing’ facilities was listed and the various techniques adopted were described. To have a better knowledge on the possible market demand, current equipment for connecting to shore power on ships trading in the area was listed. Finally, according to the above researches and to a sample of selected ships (varying in size and power) we identified the eventual power needed for the port in different hypothetical situations (i.e. with two large ships alongside, with one small ship alongside etc.) and a full description of onboard and shore equipment required (including transformers, converters etc.).

For more clarification please contact Matteo Di Maio @ matteo.dimaio@vdelta.net.

The project, carried out in Genoa, consisted in the construction of 58 cabins with private facilities and the revamping of the public areas, with main focus to the restaurant, the main alleyways and the reception. All ship’s systems, such as fresh, black and grey waters, air conditioning and electrical have been upgraded accordingly.

Amongst the most challenging tasks of this fast-track project, there has been the limited time, the ship’s age and her compliance with latest SOLAS requirements.

In addition, asbestos in the converted areas have been removed under the combined control of the authorities.

The ship has been safely delivered to SNCM on the 16th of April ready for operation.

V.Delta was in charge of the feasibility study and full project management including, but not limited to, planning, cost control and engineering.

For more details please contact Matteo Di Maio at Matteo.Dimaio@vdelta .net or by phone at +377 92 05 49 22.

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This was a €6m Project, including €4m for passengers’ areas (public and suites). The drydock took place in the Grand Bahamas Shipyard, where the main tasks were:

-          About 50 Containers of material

-          18,000 sqm of new carpet in public areas and suites

-          Complete refurbishment of two luxury suites

-          New drapes and carpet in all suites

-          Totally new loose furniture only for suites

-          New bistro, new library and internet room on deck 6

-          Laying of cable for new interactive TV system for suites and for cold ironing

-          New dividers in the balcony suites in compliance with new IMO standard regulation.

-          New synthetic jogging track (about 600 sqm)

-          Laying of new astro turf in open deck (1200 sqm)

-          Complete re-upholstery of 250 chairs and sofas’ in the public areas

-          Refitting of SPA

Approximately 35 Contractor s were involved in the project. These Contractors were mainly from Europe (Great Britain, Italy, Denmark and Finland), but also from USA, New Zealand, and Australia. In addition, approximately 350 Technicians of 15 different Nationalities were involved in the project.
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