9 11€¦ · unloading bulk carriers departed from gdansk shiprepair yard ... we had an occasion to...

Editorial

3 Astageforanewstory.

rEconstruction

4 Likeaphoenixfromtheashes. OnApril3,2012Yeoman Bontrup,oneoftheworld’slargestself-

unloadingbulkcarriersdepartedfromGdanskShiprepairYardRemontowaSAafteroneofthemostcomplexjobsfortheyardin2011and2012.

EvEnts

6 Greatestchallenge. AndrzejWajda,oneofthefamousPolishdirectors,andtheOscar

–winner,visitedRemontowaSA,whichhasbecomeastageforhisnewmovietellingthestoryofLechWalesa,atthattimeanuneducatedelectrician,whotriggeredthecollapseofcommunism.

rEpairs

8 NewservicesinNamibia. RemontowaGroupopensservicecentreinWestAfrica,providing

directaccesstoRemontowa’sexperienceandknow-howforownersandoperatorsofoffshoresupportvessels.

offshorE

9 Safe Caledoniawarmlywelcomed! Prosafe’saccommodationrigSafe CaledoniaenteredRemontowa

SAforamajorrefurbishmentscheduledtotakesevenmonths,includingseatrials.

rEpairs & convErsions.

11 Shipyardbusywithferries. Nearly50carandpassengerferries,passengerships,ro-pax’es

andfreightferries,ocean-going(longhaul)cargoro-ro’sandvehiclecarriers(PC/TC’s)havebeenstayingatRemontowaSAforawiderangingscopesofworksincethebeginningof2011untillateMarch2012.

intErviEw

15 Long-lastingcooperation. WehadanoccasiontofitinabusyscheduleofRemontowaSAand

GdanskvisitofMs.MartineJourdren,presidentofBrittanyFerries.

rEpairs

16 FishingvesselsfromRussia. Recently,thenumberofRussianfishingvesselscomingto

Remontowahasbeenconstantlyincreasing.

17 Familiarwithdredgers. Recently,fairlybigtrailinghoppersuctiondredgerAlexander

von Humboldt,spentnearlytwomonths(fromlateJanuary)atRemontowaSAduetoveryextensiverangeoflaborconsumingworkstobeperformedontheship.

19 BoardandCommercialOffices.

6

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Customer Magazine - ISSUE 1 (5) 20122

Contents

A famous project of this kind in the ship-yard’s current history was the one covering a reconstruction of a 166-metre rock fallpipe vessel, which capsized after fitting a shallow spot. The ship was towed to Remontowa a few years ago after a successful salvage to be completely reconstructed and returned to service as a fallpipe vessel.

In the first quarter of 2012, thanks to Remontowa’s efforts, another ship got a chance to be reborn. It was one of the most technically complex jobs completed within the year. As a result, Yeoman Bontrup, one of the world’s largest self-unloading bulk carriers rose like a phoenix from the ashes.

And, last but not least, there was a pa-rade of ferries at the shipyard, which usually takes place in a winter season. Many ferry owners are regular Clients of the shipyard. Brittany Ferries is one of them, enjoying a long – lasting mutually fruitful cooperation with the shipyard. We have asked president of Brittany Ferries Ms. Martine Jourdren why she chooses Remontowa from among other shipyards.

Among highlights of the first quarter of 2012 there was another event worth mention-ing. The shipyard hosted the famous Polish Oscar -winning film director Andrzej Wajda who received an Academy Award for lifetime achievements a few years ago. And he, him-self having worked at a shipyard once, has made it a setting for his new movie devoted to the story of Lech Walesa, at that time an uneducated electrician who triggered the col-lapse of communism. The visit was symbolic also for Remontowa, which has become a meaningful example of successful transfor-mation from a state-owned manufacturing plant to a fully private -owned company and one of the most recognizable European brands in the maritime market. The shipyard, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, is telling a new story of its own, indeed…

Grzegorz Landowski,Editor-in-Chief.

As we can learn from Wikipedia, a ‘long weekend’ is a term used in Western countries denoting a weekend that lasts for at least three days (hence a “three-day week-end”) due to a holiday falling on either Friday or Monday. When a lone holiday occurs on a Tuesday or a Thursday, the gap between that day and the weekend may also be des-ignated as a holiday, or set to be a movable or floating holiday, or indeed work may be avoided by consensus unofficially.

In Poland, such a phenomenon usually occurs several times a year. However, the best known long weekend is that at the beginning of May, with the Labour Day on May 1st and the Constitution Day on May 3rd. The weekend can in fact be as many as 9 days long (April 28th – May 6th), and, tak-ing one to three days off work. Poles often take a short vacation then, often choosing the Baltic Sea as their destination.

However, the long weekend mentioned above doesn’t apply to Remontowa SA, which has its plate full. Last year, dozens of tour-ists and Nordic walking enthusiasts on the beaches along the sea-shore of the Gulf of Gdansk were able to see huge offshore units being towed to the shipyard at that time. This year again, at the beginning of May 2012, one of the main attractions was a view of an accommodation rig approaching the Gdansk – based Remontowa SA. Safe Caledonia en-tered the shipyard for a 7-month long stay! After successful upgrades and conversions of four offshore platforms accomplished last year, with an accommodation unit (Safe Bris-tolia) and a jack – up (Safe Esbjerg) among them, Prosafe decided to have another ac-commodation platform rejuvenated, entrust-ing the job to the Remontowa SA.

Safe Caledonia was warmly welcomed, since, extremely experienced in repairs, modifications, conversions and upgrades of offshore units of all types, the shipyard is platform-hungry. This remarkable experience has been proved by dozens or so projects of this kind successfully executed over the last decade.

But Remontowa is also experienced in other demanding projects such as endow-ing shipwrecked vessels with a second life.

A stage for a new story…

RemontowaNews is a quarterly customermagazinededicated toClients of the shipyard andof theREMONTOWAGroup.Publisher: Shipbuilding&ShippingLtd.,memberoftheREMONTOWAGroup,NaOstrowiu1,80-958Gdansk,Poland.Editor-in-Chief:GrzegorzLandowski.Phone:+48583071790,fax:+48583071256,e-mail:[email protected](withtheexceptionofphotos)maybereproducedprovidedthesourcecitation.

An accommodation rig Safe Caledonia while being towed to the Gdansk – based Remontowa SA Shipyard for a major refurbishment.

Photo: Piotr B. Starenczak

Picture on the front cover:

Customer Magazine - ISSUE 1 (5) 2012 3

Editorial

The ship arrived to Remontowa SA powerless and under tow, with most of its large superstructure burnt out in result of extensive fire this bulker expe-rienced. On 2 July 2010, a major fire and explosion occurred on board the ship during cargo loading. The fire spread rapidly, resulting in significant damage to the vessel. Fortunately, injuries were minor. A routine post-discharge survey identified the need for repairs to Yeo-man Bontrup’s cargo discharge hopper, which required hot work on arrival at the remote Glensanda Quarry on Loch Linnhe.

On April 3, 2012 Yeoman Bontrup, one of the world’s largest self-unloading bulk carriers departed from Gdansk Shiprepair Yard Remontowa SA after one of the most complex jobs for the yard in 2011 and 2012.

Nothing new, but…

Extensive rebuilding of damaged ships or even the ones that were salvaged from capsized and partly sunk condition was nothing new for Remontowa. However, the range and scale of damage, lack of many items from shipboard systems documenta-tion (yards design drawings, manuals, etc.), complexity of cargo discharging system, not to mention keeping the highest standards in quality and safety of work, made this project one of the

largest and prioritized at Remontowa during recent several months.

Extensive range of steelwork and outfitting

Over 20 years old ship looked like brand new unit upon redelivery to the Owners. It was redelivered about 12 months after signing the contract. One has to bear in mind the extensive range of steelwork and outfitting. Among others, the whole superstructure was dismantled from the hull and its structure mostly re-placed. Large part of internal structure of the ship, especially in way of the cargo conveyors and the parts that were affected by fire damage, had to be removed and replaced or stripped and outfitted right from the bare metal. The cargo offloading boom was also taken ashore in course of rebuilding of the ships.

Yeoman Bontrup redelivered “as new” after fire damage repairs

Like a phoenixfrom the ashes…

Reconstructed Yeoman Bontrup returning from sea trials.


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Reconstruction

Reconstruction of the cargo system

One of the most complex tasks was the installation of vertical conveyor of Yeoman Bontrup. The assembly, weigh-ing some 72 tons, and measuring well over 20 m in height had to be placed vertically in casing in front of the ship accommodation block. This precise operation required lifting the assembly over the quay level at the outreach of 34 m with a specially hired crane.

Among the last stages was testing and putting cargo discharge system in operation, that took place after sea trials. The procedure of putting the conveyors into operation proved the quality of work - confirmed the attention to detail, efforts towards quality and accuracy put by Remontowa into rebuilding of the cargo system.

The sea trials themselves also re-sulted with a short list of very minor, in-significant faults, proving Remontowa’s quality of work.

It is also worth mentioning that detailed engineering of the rebuilding was developed in-house. REMONTOWA

Group’s Remontowa Marine Design & Consulting Sp. z o.o. (RMDC) prepared documentation for rebuild process.

The quality of workmanship

Remontowa was pleased to deliver the ship, classed by Lloyd’s Register, to the satisfaction of its Owners and is proud to quote representatives of the Owners. They expressed their recog-nition of the quality of Remontowa’s workmanship and the large workload that the yard and its subcontractors delivered in order to return the ship to its appearance, operational functionality and readiness. The Owners’ satisfaction

is also related to the fact that the ship meets their expectations and contractual requirements.

Successful outcome of efforts put by Remontowa in this complex rebuilding of fire damaged large self-unloading bulk carrier once more confirms the yard’s vast experience, expertise, broad know-how and ability to deliver quality and has already resulted with increased interest in its services from owners of similar ships, especially in context of possible conversions or upgrades of shipboard continuous bulk cargo dis-charge systems.

Among others, the whole superstructure was dismantled from the hull and its structure mostly replaced.


Among the last stages was testing and putting cargo discharge

system in operation.

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Reconstruction

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the ensuing successful talks with com-munist authorities will be woven into the movie that is to debut in Poland in the fall of 2012. However, the film requires also on-location shooting in shipyard en-vironment with close-up sights typical to the shipyard, such as welders and fitters at work, ship hull structures stripped to bare steel, shipyard cranes, etc. This is, where Remontowa SA comes to help as the largest and busiest Poland’s yard at present. It is yet to be seen how film production team copes with the fact that any present day shipyard, not to men-tion Remontowa SA, looks too modern to disguise as the Gdańsk Shipyard of 70’s or 80’s (and the same applies to ships seen at the shipyard). There are also some crucial differences, like the fact that Walesa’s Gdansk Shipyard was

An Oscar – winner: Repair such huge ships is a more difficult task, than… to direct a film!

Andrzej Wajda, one of the famous Polish directors, began shooting “Walesa” in the Baltic port city of Gdansk, where in 1980 - then-unemployed - electrician Walesa seized the reigns of a shipyard wage protest and turned it into a nationwide Solidarity movement that helped lead to the downfall of communism a decade later.

The Oscar - winner said, on the occasion of special press conference announcing the production start for the film, that his new movie on former Pol-ish president and Solidarity founder Lech Walesa will be his greatest challenge in 55 years as a director.

- This will be the most difficult movie I have made in my life. However, great

Polish film director, in his new difficult production, got at least some “technical” support from Remontowa SA.

Remontowa helped Wajda

Documentary footage from the Wale-sa-led strike in the Gdansk Shipyard and

Greatest challenge

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During his stay at Remontowa, Wajda was invited to pay a visit to the president of the Remontowa’s supervisory board, Piotr Soyka.


Events

a production yard with longitudinal building berths and slipways, while Re-montowa SA is a repair and conversion yard with floating docks. But let us leave it to the talents and professionalism of the film production team.

A logistical challenge…

However, the director decided, that “Tradition Hall” of Remontowa’s may very well play the role of historical “BHP Hall” at Gdansk Shipyard, where negotiations between striking workers and representatives of the communist regime, as well as signing of the final “August agreements” took place. Dur-ing two days of on location shooting at Remontowa (with huge film production team… - arranging a parking place for several dozens of cars and trucks of this team was a logistical challenge even for that big shipyard as Remontowa SA is) shooting for scenes showing events from 1976 and from August 1980 strike was done. Some of the shipyards work-ers played as extras during on-location shooting.

What the movie will be about?

As reported by the press - the movie will span the period between the worker street protests of 1970, in which Walesa took part, to his speech before the U.S. Congress in the fall of 1989, shortly after the end of communism in Poland and a year before he became the first popu-larly elected president. Walesa won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 for his work in leading Poland towards freedom.

Wajda’s film will concentrate on heroic posture of Lech Wałęsa and his admirable behavior in fight for inde-pendence of Poland and whole Eastern Europe. Wałęsa, an ordinary electrician, was fighting against communist regime and eventually he became a leader of strikes in whole country, but will omit the controversial Walesa biography facts, much discussed in Poland recently. The film will show not only the time of fight but also the important transformation of Poles’ awareness and how an every-day worker may become a national hero and first democratically elected President of Poland.

Actors chosen for the main roles are Robert Więckiewicz (as Lech Wałęsa)

and Agnieszka Grochowska (as Danuta Wałęsa, wife).

Wajda received a lifetime achieve-ment Academy Award (Oscar) in 2000.

When the job at Remontowa had been done, the Oscar - winner said with

courtesy: - It seems to me, to repair such huge ships is a more difficult task, than… to direct a film!

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The film requires

on-location shooting in a shipyard

environment. Polish actor

Robert Więckiewicz

(as Lech Wałęsa, with a mustache) going down gangway…

Andrzej Wajda with journalists

in the Remontowa’s

“Tradition Hall”.

A director of photography, working on the

new Wajda’s film is Pawel

Edelman (first on the right) who earned

his first Oscar nomination

for his collaboration

with Roman Polanski on The Pianist.


Events

Remontowa Group commences op-erations in West Africa providing direct access to Remontowa’s experience and know - how for owners and operators of offshore support vessels.

The new entity, Remontowa Marine Services Namibia, commences direct Remontowa’s presence and after sales client support operations in Africa - growing offshore market. Major areas of operation to be covered will be offshore industry based in Angola, Nigeria, Tan-zania, Gabon and Namibia and others countries in West Coast of Africa. Ship repairs, maintenance and servicing ships’ equipment will thus be performed in-situ instead of bringing ships to distant European yards.

- We have chosen Namibia, because, from our point of view, this is optimal location for establishing a service center - Klaudiusz Stolarski, president of the new entity in Remontowa Group explains. -

The company’s range of operations will cover mainly servicing ships either built at Remontowa Group yards or vessels sent to Gdansk for repairs, maintenance or conversions and upgrades by shipowners and operators co-operating with Gdansk Shiprepair Yard Remontowa SA for years, so far. We move closer to the Client. We want to be present with our services, where it is most needed - close to offshore oil and gas fields.

West Africa appears to be the world’s third busiest area of new offshore oil and gas developments. What is more, the new discoveries are being announced offshore Tanzania, Gabon and Namibia.

- Offshore support fleet comprises high-earning vessels, so every single day of downtime is very expensive for the owner or operator, too. Therefore, short reaction time, mowing closer to the Client, being available on the spot is just what the market expects from us -

Remontowa Group opens service centre in West Africa

Klaudiusz Stolarski adds and continues: - Initially the company will employ over 20 specialists, both Polish staff and local employees to be trained by us.

Remontowa Marine Services Namibia operations, based in Walvis Bay, are scheduled to commence effective from May 1, 2012.

Remontowa Marine Services Namibia (Pty) Ltd

No.342ndStreetEast,SyncroliftAreaPOBox4998,

WalvisBay,Namibia

Tel.:+26464276500Mobile:+264811461466

Fax:+26464276501

www.remontowa.msemail:[email protected]

Contact:PatrykPettke

OperationsDirectorMobile:+264811461466

e-mail:[email protected]

Wide range of equipment and onboard

systems for which Remontowa Marine

Services provides maintenance, system

integration, installation, commissioning,

overhauls and repairs, engineering,

supervising and project management,

deliveries of materials and systems in

newbuildings, retrofits, conversions and

upgrades.

Fig.

: RM

S


Repairs

Safe Caledonia warmly welcomed

magazine mentioned above, the scope of work will be extensive. The four ac-commodation fingers on the main deck will be removed and replaced by four new structures. Following the upgrade, Safe Caledonia will comfortably accom-modate 454 persons in a convivial and productive environment. In addition, offices in the port outer module (POM) for 67 persons, split over two levels will provide splendid facilities for the client.

What had been known before ar-rival of the mobile offshore unit at the yard, is that the main deck will need 40 tonnes of steel renewal. The main for-ward superstructure and lower deck will

Safe Caledonia arrived at Remontowa SA on April, 28th.

The reason for the arrival of Prosafe operated Safe Caledonia in Gdansk - based yard is refurbishment that will not only enhance the vessel’s facilities as an accommodation rig, but will also extend the structural life time of the vessel.

As explained by Mike Duddy, Pro-ject Manager, in the Prosafe’s corporate magazine “Prosafe Now”, the floatel Safe

Caledonia comes to the Remontowa SA yard for a major refurbishment sched-uled to take seven months, including sea trials.

Demanding project

As stated in the description of the project published in the corporate

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Within the last 10 years Remontowa SA has repaired, upgraded or converted 9 offshore platforms of various types. On April, 28th 2012, the number of such units being serviced at the shipyard hit 10.

10th offshore rig at the Shipyard!


Offshore

be extensively refitted. Important areas such as the bridge, heliadmin, galley, mess, recreation rooms, stores, fridges and provision spaces will be stripped and refinished.

Continuing the compliance with new regulations, the six new diesel generators will comply with the new Tier II rules on emissions. Each one will produce 2.6 MW of power, making Safe Caledonia equal in generating muscle to 35 Ferrari 458 Italia supercars.

The existing helideck will be re-moved, repainted and reinstalled to meet the newest CAP 437 legislation. A hard-ware and software upgrade will bring the DP system into the 21st century.

Good relationship

“We are happy to work again with Remontowa having a good relationship after admirable performances from them during the stays of Safe Esbjerg and Safe Bristolia” - stated Mike Duddy, Project Manager, in the Prosafe’s corporate magazine “Prosafe Now”.

The refurbishment of the Safe Cal-edonia will result in an “as good as new” rig, ready for 20 more years of opera-tion on the UK Continental Shelf. With

amongst others new diesel generators, boilers, cranes, helideck, lifeboats, heat-ing and ventilation system, sewage plant and ballast water treatment system, the rig will not only be more cost-efficient and reliable, but also more environmen-tally friendly.

For Remontowa SA Safe Caledonia will be another significant offshore pro-ject executed for important, renowned Client. In 2011 there were four such offshore platforms - related projects…

Unprecedented event…

On February 20, 2011, large semi-submersible drilling rig WilPhoenix was towed from Remontowa SA’s own facilities in Gdansk to hired graving dock in nearby Gdynia for upgrade and maintenance finishing touches. The space at Gdansk Remontowa’s facili-ties, made available by the transfer of WilPhoenix to Gdynia, was immediately filled with another mobile unit Atlantic Rottedam, which arrived on Monday, February 21. This has brought the number of mobile offshore units being simultaneously serviced or upgraded by Remontowa SA to four, which was the case for the first time not only at any

Polish yard, but most likely, also in the whole Baltic Sea region. Later, at the fi-nal stage of servicing of the WilPhoenix, this semi-sub was transferred back to the shipyard in Gdansk allowing for the meeting of the all four rigs (Safe Bristo-lia, WilHunter (ex. Arctic IV), Atlantic Rotterdam (jack-up) and WilPhoenix (ex. Arctic II) in the same place at least for a couple of weeks since late March 2011, which was an unprecedented event for Baltic based yards.

Platforms, tankers, FPSO units

Within the last 10 years, Remontowa SA has serviced, repaired or upgraded 9 offshore platforms of various types (self-elevating units and semi-subs, ac-commodation and workshop, as well as drilling units). The shipyard is also ac-tive in other sectors of offshore market, performing such works as conversions of tankers into shuttle tankers with bow loading systems and to FPSO vessels, conversions of offshore support vessels (to diving support and other types / purposes), conversions and upgrades of seismic vessels, repairs and maintenance of any kind of offshore ships, etc.

A 3D renderization of the refurbished Safe Caledonia.

Fig.

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safe


Offshore

At some point in January 2011, Re-montowa SA enjoyed hosting over 20 ships, including six or seven ferries. Similar situation occured at the turn of 2011 and 2012. Just during the first days of January 2011, six new ships - clients arrived, including Polish operated ro-pax Baltivia, followed by car-passenger ferries Seven Sisters as well as Bretagne and Normandie. Among ferries also such

ships as Cote d’Albatre (in the first half of February 2011) and Stena Scandinavica (until early April 2011 at Remontowa SA; ex Britannica, ex Stena Britannica) were either serviced or upgraded. The yard serviced (among other passenger carrying vessels) Finnish operated ro-pax’es Finntrader (through 1st decade of January; 183 m long), and Finnsailor (from late December 2011 till mid Janu-

ary 2012; 161 m long), Polish operated Baltivia (147 m) and British Seven Sisters (142 m).

Seven Sisters, staying for over two weeks in January 2011 at Remontowa SA, had its cargo decks renewed and brought the shipyard’s specialists a lot of work in machinery spaces. This was at least the second visit to Gdansk in the ferry’s history. Cote d’Albatre - another sister – ship to Seven Sisters has had also almost “sister range of works” performed by Remontowa SA during nearly three weeks commencing on January 31, 2011.

Regular visitors from Brittany Ferries

French ferry Normandie has been at Remontowa SA for a couple of times before, recently, from January 8th for

Shipyard busy with ferries

Superfast VII and Superfast VIII in the Stena livery with new “wavy” design on their sides, moored at the shipyard’s quay.

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Remontowa SA has always enjoyed a solid client base among leading European ferry operators. Nearly 50 car and passenger ferries, passenger ships, ro-pax’es and freight ferries, ocean-going (long haul) cargo ro-ro’s and vehicle carriers (PC/TC’s) have been staying at Remontowa SA for a wide ranging scopes of work since the beginning of 2011 until late March 2012.


Repairs & conversions

some three weeks. Besides docking for repairs and maintenance the ship has had its four main engines and two auxiliary units overhauled in addition to numerous pumps, coolers and heat ex-changers, heaters, valves, all life-saving equipment. The hull, car and open decks were cleaned and painted.

Bretagne, 152 m long, 2030 pax capacity and 580 car capacity, ferry op-erated (same as Normandie) by French company Brittany Ferries (the Client of Remontowa SA since 2004) came to the shipyard for a wide range of works in machinery spaces. Leaving Gdansk before mid February, she has also seen a wide scope of piping work at Remon-towa SA.

Brittany Ferries operated Cap Finis-tere (203 m long), a large, fast conven-tional ferry (ex Superfast V), arrived at Remontowa SA in February 2011 and, after five weeks, left the Yard having its decks (nos. 9 and 10) renewed and two new tunnel thrusters installed, among other routineous works performed.

Two Brittany Ferries’ ships have been recently serviced and docked at Remontowa SA - Pont Aven (the larg-est unit in the French ferry operator) and Mont St Michel. Interestingly they both arrived and departed together - on the same days: January 8th and 27th. They visited Gdansk - based yard for mostly routineous, but quite extensive range of general overhaul, repairs and maintenance works. Pont Aven came to Gdansk for extensive docking and hull maintenance programme, including changing the coating to silicon paint, which required special surface prepara-tion and strictly controlled coating ap-plication temperature.

Polish operators

Also the recent period saw a lot of ro-ro passenger ferries flocking to Re-montowa SA (just for example - during the second week of January there were as many as 8 ferries being serviced by Remontowa SA simultaneously). These

included ro-pax Baltivia, operated by Polish company Polferries, mainly for general overhaul and maintenance works, at the turn of 2011 and 2012. The scope of works on Baltivia included overhaul, repairs and load tests of four internal ramps, besides regular general overhauls, repairs and maintenance. Baltivia was followed by larger (in gross tonnage terms, not ro-ro lane capacity) car and passenger ferry Scandinavia, staying at Remontowa SA for almost two weeks in February 2012.

Another Polish operator, Unity Line, brought one of the largest Polish ferries - Skania for almost two weeks (includ-ing docking) at the turn of January and February 2012.

Finnlines in Gdansk and Gdynia

Finnlines brought for routineous repair and maintenance works, includ-ing docking, four large ro-pax ferries – Finneagle, Finnclipper (5 years ago

Europalink was serviced in smaller of the two former Gdynia Shipyard’s drydocks, hired by Remontowa SA instead of busy own Remontowa SA’s floating docks in Gdańsk.

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Pont Aven from Brittany Ferries, the largest unit in the French ferry operator, came to Gdansk for extensive docking and hull maintenance programme.

modified and upgraded at Remontowa SA) and “Star” class Finnlady and Eu-ropalink (still among world’s largest ro-paxes). Finnish operator, owned by Grimaldi has had as many as 9 ships staying at Remontowa SA since the be-ginning of 2011 till now (together with earlier [above] mentioned Finntrader and Finnsailor), of which five ships visited Remontowa SA during Autumn and Win-ter 2011/2012. Europalink was serviced in smaller of the two former Gdynia Ship-yard’s drydocks, hired by Remontowa SA instead of busy own Remontowa SA’s floating docks in Gdańsk. On Europalink protective coating specially developed to meet extreme conditions was applied. Freight ferry Finnpulp has undergone typical class renewal works, including overhaul and general repairs.

Single and double – ended ferries

An early spring in 2011 saw the gen-eral repairs and maintenance, with appli-

cation of a new livery and other works, onboard yet another ferry - Ostend Spirit, renamed Norman Spirit, operated by LD Ferries. The works carried out at Remon-towa SA included renewal of several dozens of large and regular size ship windows, cabins refurbishment, a lot of steel works, docking, hull maintenance and renewal of car decks.

Also the ro-pax Stena Feronia has undergone an extensive range of over-haul and maintenance works, leaving the yard early January 2012. The ship also had some 80 tons of steel structure replaced to repair punctures (indenta-tions) on both sides.

Earlier, during Spring, Summer and Autumn months of 2011, Remontowa SA saw visits of considerable number of freight ferries and cargo ro-ro’s, but also ferries happened to be serviced, including Unity Line’s railway ferry / ro-pax Wolin.

And last, but not least a double-ended ferry, that sailed from Norwegian fjords for servicing at Remontowa SA

was Basto 4, arriving at the Gdansk based yard early February and leaving after a month. Among passenger carry-ing ships (albeit not ferries) visiting the Gdansk based yard, also the expedition cruise vessel Clipper Adventurer is worth a note. The 100 m long vessel visited Gdansk for damage repairs among other works and left the yard late March.

Long-haulo ro-ro vessels

Besides ro-pax’es and car-passenger ferries also ro-ro freight ferries, long haul large cargo ro-ro’s as well as medium size and large vehicle carriers consti-tute a significant part of Remontowa SA workload.

Among most notable visits during 2011 and 2012 so far, there were large long-haul PC/TC’s, like Madame But-terfly and Otello of Wallenius Marine fleet; medium size and feeder vehicle carriers including Arabian Breeze, Asian Breeze (UECC vehicle carriers received new company’s ship livery at Remon-

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towa SA), City of Barcelona, City of St. Petersburg (here there were docking and emergency fix), Danube Highway, Seine Highway and Thames Highway as well as Vinni; freight ferry Maestro Universe and large cargo ro-ro’s - Tyrusland and Saint Roch. The latter underwent quite extensive range of general repairs and steel structure replacement.

Stena project

An interesting project completed at Remontowa SA in ferry sector during 2011 was the one covering two Stena Superfast ferries. One of the world’s big-gest ferry operator, for years a valuable Client for Remontowa SA, had decided to move its operations between Northern Ireland and Scotland to a new route - Belfast to Cairnryan. It involved the introduction of two new vessels Stena Superfast VII and Stena Superfast VIII (chartered from Tallink), which have undergone an extensive modifications and refit at Remontowa SA. At the turn of

first and second decade of October and November two ferries left Remontowa SA, after completion of extensive refit, repair and upgrading.

Superfast VII and Superfast VIII in Tallink livery arrived to Remontowa SA together late August. Some signifi-cant modifications and refurbishing of the passenger spaces were carried out during refit in Gdansk. Also car decks have been modified and all necessary changes or upgrades to general ship’s systems performed. Tallink livery has been replaced, so the ships left Polish yard rebranded to Stena Line standards with new “wavy” design on their sides.

After refit and modifications the two sister vessels each carry 1,200 passen-gers, 660 cars or 120 trucks.

The project mentioned above, was anteceded by another significant upgrade of Stena ferries in 2011. In course of large investments Stena Line has recently made on strategically important routes, exten-sive conversions of ferries have been contracted to leading European yards.

The very modern Stena Hollandica and Stena Britannica have been transferred to the Gothenburg-Kiel route, where they have replaced the existing vessels that had so far serviced Sweden-Germany service. The two ships mentioned above, ranking high among the world’s largest ferries (at 44,327 gt, 240 m in length), were brought for upgrading to Gdansk Shiprepair Yard Remontowa SA.

The range of upgrade was quite ex-tensive. The new part of superstructure (new deck) has been installed, which has extended the passenger spaces with both cabins and public spaces. Existing passenger spaces have been refurbished and rearranged on both vessels. Also cargo space has been rearranged with new ro-ro and cargo access equipment installed. The conversion work per-formed at Remontowa SA has ensured that the vessels (now known as Stena Scandinavica and Stena Germanica III) are best suited to their new trading route.

Seven Sisters (in the foreground) has had its cargo decks renewed and brought the shipyard’s specialists a lot of work in machinery spaces. In the background on the left - Bretagne and Normandie from Brittany Ferries, lifted in docks.

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Long-lasting

This short interview was arranged on the bridge of Pont Aven, the Brittany Fer-ries’ largest ship, lying in Remontowa’s largest floating dock. From height we could overlook another large ferry of the same shipping company - Mont St Michel.

- How long have you been cooper-ating with Remontowa SA and what your experiences, impression from this cooperation?

- I think it is 8 years now and we are pleased with this cooperation, because it is the yard, that we are confident with the work they do. The quality is high and the time is also, what counts. The yard respects timetable and delivery time, which is very important to us - this kind of ferry cannot afford a long downtime due to scheduled yard visit. We already have bookings from passengers so there is no way to postpone the redeployment of the vessel.

- Usually, how many of your ships do you bring to this shipyard every year?

- It’s normally two, sometimes - three.- So this year there are two of your

ferries to be seen in Gdańsk…- Yes, and these are the two biggest

ships in our fleet. And the range of works to do is wide, especially as for such short yard stay time…

- What is the current state and prospects for the ferry market? Can we expect more ships in your fleet?...

- The situation is not very satisfac-tory. There have been signs of crisis, especially on the Channel. That’s why we decided two years ago to diversify and to develop activities on the Spanish route. We are working very well with Spain. Two years ago we bought a new ship (former Superfast V). We do not rule out that we will further develop our fleet with more ferries.

Brittany FerriesSince its formation, in 1972,

largely in order to transport cauli-flowers and artichokes from Roscoff to Plymouth, Brittany Ferries has grown into the leading maritime carrier on the Western and Central Channel. Today, Brittany Ferries operates one of the most modern fleets on the Channel and it accounts for over 50% of the traffic on the Western Channel.

- Would you stay on your tradi-tional routes or maybe you would like to develop to other markets as well?...

- Could be, could be… but it is too early to discuss details at the moment.

- Anyway, if your fleet further ex-pands - maybe we will also see more of your ships at Remontowa SA in future?...

- That’s right. Absolutely.- Thank you very much.

We had an occasion to fit in a busy schedule of Remontowa SA and Gdansk visit of Ms. Martine Jourdren, president of Brittany Ferries.

cooperation

Ms. Martine Jourdren, president of Brittany Ferries (on the left) and Mr. Frederic Pouget - member of the Board, on the bridge of Pont Aven.

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Interview

Recently, the number of Russian fishing vessels coming to Remontowa has been constantly increasing.One of the examples of recent or-

ders from Russia relates to large, age-ing, East Germany built, factory-trawler Lira, which is to become practically “as new” unit after works carried out at Re-montowa SA. The scope of repairs and upgrade is very significant. It includes replacement of two main engines with new units, replacement of gearbox, main boiler, air compressors. The fish hold will be rebuilt, including installation of refrigeration system. The fresh (live) fish tanks will be enlarged.

As far as projects recently com-pleted are concerned - the one cover-ing Melkart 2 fishing ship is especially worth mentioning. The 25 years old, 56 m long trawler looks like new after class renewal repairs and redelivery from

Remontowa SA. However, the single big-gest task in nearly 3 months yard stay of Melkart 2 was the rebuilding of the fish processing plant. This involved stripping the old facilities and installing brand new ones. The new versatile fish processing line, suitable for processing of a wide range of fish species, will be able to do anything but canning. There were also new electrical network system installed, as well as new processing plant control system wiring (by Remontowa Marine Services) and new hydraulic piping in fish processing plant. Refrigeration plant was taken care of by another REMON-TOWA Group’s company - PBUCh. Also in engine room or fishing ship functional systems and rooms there was a lot to be done, including overhaul and repairs of the main engine, renewal of electrical and remote control systems - mainly for the new fish processing plant, repairs to refrigerated chambers, installation of air compressors, not to mention docking and hull maintenance and painting.

- Rebuilt, modernized fish processing plant increases fish processing capacity

Factory – trawler Lira, one of the examples of recent orders from Russia.

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or output. There are new processing lines installed allowing to broaden the range of processing functionality - ex-plained Alexander Borisov, main pro-ductioin technology engineer from the company managing the vessel - Murman SeaFood Co. - We now have better and wider fish catching and processing capabilities - Andrzej Roman, financial director added.

Vladimir A. Khizhnyakov, owner and general director of Murman SeaFood Co, based in Murmansk, operating five other fishing ships besides Melkart 2, did not hide his contentment either: - The yard has done a good job, we have a new fish processing plant. We are ready to go to fishing grounds right away.

Earlier another Rissian ship, Kur-skhaya Kosa, had its fish processing plant modernized at Remontowa SA. The ship is expected to be brought to Remontowa SA in May again, mainly for installation of a new boiler.


Repairs

Fishing vessels from Russia

Recently, fairly big trailing hop-per suction dredger Alexander von Humboldt, has stayed at the shipyard. The dredger is operated by Jan De Nul, possessing one of the world’s largest fleets of this type of ships. Jan De Nul Group, operating worldwide is specialized in dredging and land reclamation, rock placing, trenching, rock dumping for oil and gas related offshore pipeline projects, quay walls, marine related projects, civil engineer-ing and large-scale environmental remediation projects, with a solid reputation in turnkey projects. The company ranks among the interna-tional top of dredging contractors and the top of marine engineering con-tractors, operating the fleet of some 80 units, including 14 trailing hopper suction dredgers.

The 1998 - built, 120,5 m long, 9040 cbm hopper capacity dredger was ex-tensively rejuvenated at Remontowa SA, earlier this year. The job included as much as 300 tons of steel structure replacement.

Another two dredgers from Jan De Nul - 153 m long Gerardus Mercator and 143 m long James Cook - were un-der repairs at Remontowa nearly two years ago.

The yard has been taking care also of other Owners’ dredgers. One of the most recent examples was the HAM 310 trailing hopper suction dredger, oper-ated by another market leader - Van Oord. The conversion of this dredger was completed in December last year. The 1985 - built, 138,50 m long and 13 500 cbm hopper capacity ship was dry docked and upgraded.

Alexander von Humboldt was rejuvenated at Remontowa SA, earlier this year.

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Remontowa has a long track record of dealing successfully with contracts related to dredgers. Not mentioning numerous ships repairs, upgrades, class renewal jobs and maintenance, the shipyard has been both - building and converting dredgers.

Familiar with dredgers


Repairs

Shiprepair Yard “Remontowa” had built a modern trailing hopper suc-tion dredger Nautilus to joint design of Krupp Fordertechnik GmbH, Vosta BV and operator - Baggermaatschappij Holland BV.

Among some of the notable conver-sions performed by Remontowa SA there is the case of trailing suction hopper dredger Hein. It was converted and up-graded in 2005 from an ageing dredger.

The shipyard has also been involved in general repairs and extensive rebuild-ing of some other kind of ships, that are usually operated by the same group of companies as in case of dredgers. These are rock dumping (fall pipe) ships. A few months ago repairs were per-formed onboard rock dumping vessel Rolling Stone, operated by Tideway (DEME Group subsidiary). Earlier the yard had serviced similar vessel - Sea-horse from the same operator.

HAM 310 is a trailing hopper suction dredger, converted in December 2011 by Remontowa SA.

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Gerardus Mercator at Remontowa SA.

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Van Oord is a leading international contractor specialising in dredging, ma-rine engineering and offshore projects (oil, gas and wind). Van Oord is Dutch-based, independent family business. It operates a fleet of some 80 units, includ-ing 25 trailing hopper suction dredgers.

Remontowa is also familiar with building and converting of dredgers. Several years ago, before REMONTOWA Group took over Northern Shipyard (today - REMONTOWA Shipbuilding, where newbuilding activities of the Group are now concentrated), Gdańsk


Repairs

9 11€¦ · unloading bulk carriers departed from gdansk shiprepair yard ... we had an occasion to...

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