Innovations behind Covid-friendly flooring for cruise ships

Another recent innovation at Bolidt is its sensor flooring, which the company recognises can also play a major role in making ships safer in post-pandemic times. “This is another evolving concept. We had already launched Bolideck LED, where lighting is embedded in the decking, now we are trialling this product with inbuilt sensors linking to alarms. If there are certain areas a passenger cannot enter, or too many passengers are in one place at one time, the sensors trigger an alarm on the bridge so the crew can intervene.”

Bolidt has also been developing the cleanability of floors. Interestingly, the company launched its Bolidt Cleaning Program in 2019, before Covid-19 appeared, but it is especially relevant to the cruise sector now.

Mr van Overbeek explains, “The Cleaning Program offers cruise lines a comprehensive approach to hygiene which they themselves can manage. It consists of an eco-surface cleaner and different tools and applicators. The probiotics break down the dirt from the surface in a continuous process; they stay on the floor and keep it clean. These are properties that are environmentally friendly so there is no issue with using them inside a harbour or out at sea.”

Royal Caribbean is using it on all its ships. “The results are very good and can be achieved easily by the crew,” says Mr van Overbeek. “Their safety office was involved in implementing the product to check the cleaning does not affect the anti-slip properties of the decks, which it doesn’t.”

After a year where the cruise industry was put on pause due to Covid-19, the sector is busy again as ships prepare to sail. Bolidt is involved with a range of work spanning maintenance, drydock and newbuilds. “Orders for maintenance that should have taken place previously are being carried out this year. We expect to complete 11 drydock projects before the end of 2021 so the market is picking up. These projects tend to be smaller as cruise liners are starting with the most necessary work… we expect a big boom in the next two years.”

Bolidt is also working on a range of newbuilds with 18 projects scheduled for this year, from river cruise ships to oceangoing vessels being built in Germany, Finland, Italy, France and China. Projects extend to the expedition cruise sector, including all outdoor decks on board Mystic Cruises’ new ships and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection newbuild.

As well as a focus on making Covid-friendly solutions, sustainability is an ongoing focus for Bolidt, which is concentrating on making its decking solutions lighter. “If you have a big cruise ship, you can save 50,000-60,000 kg just with weight reductions to the base layer,” says Mr van Overbeek. These lighter-weight materials can contribute to significant fuel savings.

Bolidt is also part of the Green Dot initiative, which is based on making the entire supply chain as sustainable as possible. The company continues to create, test and showcase pioneering, eco-friendly designs and materials, which also cover the decking specialist’s raw material suppliers. One requirement is that they are located as close as possible to Bolidt’s premises to reduce transportation requirements, thus preventing unnecessary CO2 emissions.

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