Gallery: Damen Gives a Makeover to Two Oldies

Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam (DSAm), part of Damen Shiprepair & Conversion (DSC), has completed maintenance works on cruise vessels Marco Polo and Magellan operated by the UK-based Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV), part of the Global Maritime Group. To see the makeover check out our gallery above.

During the initial docking process at the yard, the 22,080 gross ton Marco Polo was inspected by Wouter van den Bossche, DSAm Project Manager.

“After examining the vessel, we scheduled various equipment overhauls and repainting. Our first task was to completely high-pressure clean the hull and then paint the flat bottom and vertical sides in the renowned ‘Marco Polo’ blue. The topside of the vessel was painted at a later stage, which became the critical path for undocking,” van der Bossche said.

The equipment maintenance included polishing the main propeller and bow thruster blades, and overhauling the main engine coolers.

Damen’s work on the vessel continued in maintenance, renewal and upgrade works in its public areas and cabins, the air conditioning and evaporator rooms as well as renewal of numerous sea water and fresh water piping and overhauling of the overboard valves. Work on the ship’s rudder was also performed.

Built by German shipbuilder Wadan Yards MTW in 1965 and rebuilt in Greece in 1993, Marco Polo features a length of 176 meters and a width of 24 meters.

Furthermore, after the initial inspection, the 46,052 gross ton Magellan presented a “substantial work schedule” for the Damen team.

“A significant part of the docking involved the tail shaft. For example, the starboard propeller hub needed inspection in the workshop. So a special lifting tool was made for removing the hub. Then, after Rolls Royce’s survey, we machined the existing hub, blade carriers and W-plates as per inspector’s instructions,” Daniel Gerner, DSAm Project Manager, said.

Work on Magellan’s propulsion system also included polishing of starboard propeller blades and repairs to the bow and stern thruster blades.

Another part of the project was the installation of a new sewage tank system.

In addition to maintenance, renewal and upgrade works in Magellan’s public areas and cabins, repairs of various steel damages and the overhauling of numerous ship’s systems were also necessary, according to Damen.

Magellan was built by Denmark’s Aalborg Vaerft in 1985 and rebuilt in 2010. The Bahamas-flagged cruise ship has a length of 221.6 meters and a width of 28 meters.