Gerolamo Scorza explains the techniques used on recent and upcoming cruise ship refurbishments
Gerolamo Scorza has carried out a wide range of cruise ship refurbishments in 2019 – spanning Oceania Insignia, Regatta, Regent Navigator and Carnival Freedom among others.
Future refit projects the subsidiary of Genova Industrie Navali has on its orderbook are:
The Italian refurbishment yard’s project manager and general contractor Alfredo De Flora says “The trend we noticed in the last few years is reducing dock time and the lead time from assignment to project completion. This requires very good organisation involving engineering (ship surveys, accurate construction drawings), direct communication with owners and architects and implementing the construction phase with the highest possible prefabrication.”
Items produced in advance in the workshop have better quality he says, adding that the company studies ways to improve the installation time and guarantee a better result. For example, by precutting the panels with the void spaces for technical items (hatches, WC bowls etc), and precladding panels with tiles or other finishes.
Explaining how using eco-friendly and lightweight materials is growing, Mr De Flora says “The use of materials is strictly related to the class requirements. We normally use aluminium honeycomb panels that are lightweight, strong and guarantee a good support for all kind of wall finishes, if allowed by the Solas. For example, when refurbishing the toilets on NCL Spirit we will use 6-mm thick aluminium panels with 0.9-thick aluminium skins. This will allow us to save tonnes of weight. The lower the weight we install on board the better it is for ship performance and fuel savings.
“We try to have a green approach at work that is very important nowadays and does not only mean using eco materials as there are many restrictions from class and the choice is quote limited, but, for example, using recycled paper and wood waste from the workshop to feed the heating system.”
Gerolamo Scorza has a 6,000-m2 workshop where it produces furniture and laminates and cuts wall panels. “All of its projects have furniture or wall panels produced by us. The workshop specialises in customised items and “combines the experience and craftmanship of the past with modern CNC machines”.
Mr De Flora says “The lesson we learnt from the past is to always use the best possible materials even if they are more expensive. You spend more when you build the furniture, but you save money later with guarantee issues and gain client satisfaction.”
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