SeaTec helps cruise industry get ship shape
- Repair and maintenance work reaches 2017 levels
- Cruise industry gearing up for full fleet deployment
- Covid still presents challenges
SeaTec, the maritime services division of V.Group, has reported a surge in repair and maintenance work in the cruise sector with demand returning to 2017 levels.
Ballast water installations, refurbishment, plumbing, welding and cleaning services are the most requested services as cruise operators gear up for increased demand, driven by vessel reactivations and Ballast Water Treatment System (BWTS) deadline.
Ulrika Quist, general manager at SeaTec, says:
“Our teams are working round the clock to help prepare cruise vessels for a return to normal service. This month alone, we’ve put in 3,500 man days and these levels look set to rise even further.
“Personally, and professionally, I couldn’t be more delighted.
“Seeing our customers’ vessels lie dormant for so long was upsetting and we did everything in our power to provide as much support as possible. We have completed a number of ballast water installations with lots of ongoing refurbishment work in passenger and crew areas.”
Quist says activity is being undertaken above and below water, with work taking place at sites and at sea across the globe.
“Alongside general repairs, we’ve been maintaining everything from engines, ducts and tanks to crew and passenger cabins, often providing specialist services such as welding,” she adds.
Despite being optimistic about the future, Quist says there are still challenges:
“Covid restrictions have led to challenges transporting teams globally and ensuring everyone has passed all the necessary PCR tests, which adds a layer of complexity to what we do. Fortunately, our scale and experience mean we’ve got this down to a fine art now and we’re definitely hitting our key objective which is to minimise downtime for vessel owners and provide them with flawless service delivery.
“We were on a growth curve before the pandemic and it’s just wonderful to have our colleagues in the riding gangs back on board!”