green machine full steam ahead - gibdock · · 2012-04-26the independent business magazine for...
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10 | Sh ipBu i ld ing Indus t r y | Vo lume 6 | I ssue 1
SH IP REF IT, REPA IR & CONVERS ION
Gibdock GrowsGibdock’s growing reputation as one of the leading cruise ship repair and refurbishment
centres in the Mediterranean has been enhanced by the docking of the 42,255GT,
1992-built Pullmantur Zenith. The vessel arrived in Gibraltar on 7 November last year
for work that had to be completed within tight time constraints and left on schedule on
20 November 2011, en route to Brazil for its next cruise itinerary.
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Sh ipBu i ld ing Indus t r y | Vo lume 6 | I ssue 1 | 11
>
O ther recent cruise ship visitors to Gibdock
have included the Thompson Destiny,
owned by Louis Cruises, which also docked in
November. This was the third time the owner has
docked the vessel in Gibraltar, on this occasion
for relative routine docking and repair work.
Gibdock chief executive, Joe Corvelli says: “We
are targeting the cruise ship market in a big way,
and contracts for major players like Saga, Louis
Cruises, Columbia and Pullmantur show we are
fast becoming a force to be reckoned with. Our
location makes us an ideal choice for operators
cruising in the Mediterranean in particular and we
have been able to demonstrate an ability to
complete demanding work programmes within
fairly tight time limits, which is vital for cruise
operators, who need to know they can get to their
next port of call on time to pick up passengers.”
Into the BreachFacilities at Gibdock include three drydocks, the
largest of which measures 272 x 38 x 10 m, and
two repair quays. As a result the company can
handle the majority of cruise vessels operating in
the region. Gibdock’s ability to handle complex
structural repair work on large cruise ships was
also demonstrated towards the end of 2010 when
it successfully completed demanding back-to-
back repairs on two Pullmantur vessels, Empress
and Sovereign. Both projects required significant
amounts of steel renewal as well as routine
drydocking work.
Gibdock is proving to be an increasingly important
yard for the Mediterranean’s cruise industry,
commercial director Richard Beards points out.
“With cruise repair facilities in Barcelona closing
down, we are showing that we are more than
capable of stepping into the breach.” Last year,
cruise visitors to Gibdock included the
33,930GRT, 215m cruise vessel Thomson
Celebration for first time customer, Cyprus-based
Columbia Ship Management. The ship docked in
March for an extensive package of works that
included general drydocking and tailshaft
overhauls, as well as the renewal of around 40 t of
steel on one of its decks.
BreakthroughConfirming their fast-rising status, Gibraltar-based
Gibdock completed a drydocking contract for
UK-based Saga Holidays in May 2011. The niche
cruise operator docked the 9,570GT, 139m Spirit
of Adventure for a 10-day programme of works,
including steel repairs to the bulbous bow and a
comprehensive external clean and repaint. At the
time, Richard Beards commented: “This is
another important breakthrough for the yard as it
is the first time we have had the opportunity to
work for Saga, which has in the past used other
yards in the region. The project was completed on
time and within budget, and we are hopeful that
we can build further on this initial collaboration
through additional projects with Saga in the
future.”
The 350-passenger capacity Spirit of Adventure
was originally built by HDW in Germany as Berlin
in 1980 and was acquired by Saga in 2005 for its
Spirit of Adventure Cruises brand. The vessel,
home ported in Dover, offers cruises to a wide
range of destinations, including the UK,
Scandinavia, the Middle East, South East Asia
and Australasia, as well as the Mediterranean.
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12 | Sh ipBu i ld ing Indus t r y | Vo lume 6 | I ssue 1
HolesGibdock was tasked with renewing the
rudderneck bushes, which required the drilling of
two holes in the bottom floor of the drydock so
that the Pullmantur Zenith’s two rudders could be
lowered to get them out. “Not many yards would
go to such lengths”, says Richard Beards. “But it
shows our flexibility and willingness to do
whatever is necessary to meet our customer’s
requirements.”
The scope of work also included renewing the
four chillers onboard. To fit the new chillers the
yard had to cut open both sides of the ship and
renew almost all the associated PVC and
non-PVC pipework. This had to be done to a
tight timetable so that the chillers would be
commissioned and ready for when the
passengers came onboard.
Time to SpareFurthermore, during a survey the tank top steel in
two compartments was found to be corroded
below the thickness levels set by Class and
Gibdock handled the necessary steel renewal
work. Work included opening access in the
bottom to facilitate the renewal and strengthening
of the tank top steel to the satisfaction of Class.
Shortly before the arrival of the Pullmantur Zenith
– during tank cleaning for the survey – the
forepeak tank was found to have some old
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SHIP REF IT, REPA IR & CONVERS ION
ShipBu i ld ing Indus t r y | Vo lume 6 | I ssue 1 | 13
weather damage that was causing corrosion
within the forepeak. The shipyard was notified and
responded by renewing the corroded steel before
the vessel was due to leave the dock. Gibdock
also recoated the external hull of the cruise ship.
While this was in many respects a routine
operation, the yard had to contend with poor
weather conditions, but completed the work with
time to spare.
Out of the Yard“We were able to float off our blocks early and
maintain our schedule without difficulty”, says
Jan Sandvik, Pullmantur Cruises’ technical director.
“The yard was flexible in adjusting its work pattern
to follow our requirements in getting the ship out of
the yard on time. Pullmantur’s previous experience
of using Gibdock, docking a number of vessels
with the yard in recent years, played a part in the
yard winning this latest project. “Gibdock has
proven that they are able to handle unplanned jobs
in a timely manner and we were confident in the
ability to deliver on time”, says Jan Sandvik.
“Deviation time was also minimal.”
Vote of ConfidenceCommenting further on the yard’s flexibility in
dealing with situations during the docking, Jan
Sandvik adds: “I was impressed with their pro-
activeness in solving problems. The yard was
open to the rapid changes sometimes needed
when things were not going quite as predicted.
They also took the time to understand what was
needed and to prepare well.” Gibdock says it
looks forward to continuing its close working
relationship with Pullmatur Cruises over the
coming year. “Pullmantur is a repeat customer
and the docking of the Pullmantur Zenith is
another vote of confidence in us”, Richard Beards
says.
i. www.gibdock.com
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Gibdock’s key strategic aim to carve a niche in the
growing regional market for jack-up and semi-
submersible drilling rig repairs, maintenance and
modification work, has moved an important step
closer. Following the arrival in October 2011 of the
22,604GT Etesco Millennium semi-submersible,
built in 1976 by Marathon Le Tourneau and
upgraded in 2006, steel repair work has been
carried out afloat and tasks in the pipeline include
tank cleaning and repair, and work to enable safe
mooring. The contract is an important landmark for
Gibdock, which has not handled a drilling rig since
1998. “We believe that the successful completion
of this project will lead to more work of this type”,
says Richard Beards. “It is part of our future
strategy to get into the semisubmersible and jack-
up rig sector and having the Etesco Millennium in
Gibdock can only help us to achieve this target.”
Seabed SurveyIn another important initiative to support its rig
market strategy, Gibdock has commissioned an
extensive survey of the seabed alongside its
wharves. Joe Corvelli, Gibdock says: “We
investigated the harbour bottom in the area of the
main wharf to be able to understand the suitability
of the ground for landing a jack-up rig. The
conclusion was that the area is perfectly suitable
for receiving jack-up spud cans and was soft
enough that they would not be damaged, but
hard enough that the weight would be supported
and the structure safely moored.”
Armed with this technical appraisal and the
showcase provided by the Etesco Millennium
contract, Gibdock is confident it is on the verge of
an important breakthrough in this sector. “The
quality of our staff and our facilities make us
extremely well suited to this kind of work,” says
Mr Corvelli. “There is simply no better location to
handle rig repair repairs and, with demand for rigs
in West Africa, the Mediterranean and Black Sea
getting stronger, we believe we are well placed to
secure more rig business in the coming year.”
Carving a Niche
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