Tag: #azipod

Carnival Vista arrives at shipyard onboard BOKA Vanguard

At the weekend Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. (Boskalis) successfully loaded cruise ship Carnival Vista on its semi-submersible heavy lift vessel BOKA Vanguard and transported it to a shipyard facility in Freeport, Bahamas for a unique dry docking operation.

I thought I would share some of the amazing photos and videos showing the process.

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BOKA Vanguard passes Carnival Vista in port Image: © Boskalis

The BOKA Vanguard can be seen passing in this great drone footage below

 

Both ships headed a few miles offshore for the loading to commence at sunrise on 13th July. The loading operation and re float took approximately twelve hours in total.

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Tugs assisting Carnival Vista Image: © Boskalis
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Image: © Boskalis

Drone footage showing Carnival Vista loaded and BOKA Vanguard re-floating

 

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Image: Captain Vittorio Marchi

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Once re floated the BOKA Vanguard headed slowly back to the shipyard in Freeport

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One of the two azipod units that will be repaired once in the shipyard

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Image: © Boskalis
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Image: © Boskalis

 Both ships arrived in Freeport early Saturday evening

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Image © Boskalis

Drone footage of BOKA Vanguard sails into port with her unique cargo

 

 

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A ship carrying a ship!

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Image: Captain Vittorio Marchi

Once safely in port work on the repairs started immediately.

IMG_2113-fill-800x600IMG_2104-fill-800x600The dry dock operation will last for two weeks with Grand Bahama Shipyard also involved. In April 2019 the usual dry dock was damaged after a crane collapsed on the Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, with both the ship and dry dock damaged. As a result, other ships including Carnival Vista have been unable to use the dry dock until it is repaired.

Once the repairs have been completed Carnival Vista will be offloaded in time for its next scheduled cruise from Galveston in Texas on 27th July.

My thanks goes to both Boskalis and Captain Vittorio Marchi of the Carnival Vista for use of the wonderful photos.

As always thank you for taking the time to read my blog.

 

 

Carnival Vista’s Propulsion System to be Repaired Using First-Of-Its-Kind ‘Floating Dry Dock’

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Rendering: ©Boskalis

Carnival Cruise Line announced today that Netherlands-based Boskalis, a worldwide leader in marine solutions, will deploy a transport vessel as a first of its kind “floating dry dock” facility to complete the repairs to Carnival Vista’s two azipods, the ship’s main propulsion system. The procedure will entail loading the ship onto the semi-submersible heavy transport vessel, BOKA Vanguard, and then docking the vessel at the Grand Bahama shipyard for the repair work.

A video animation detailing the “floating dry dock” process can be viewed here:

 www.vimeo.com/boskalis/vista.

“This groundbreaking procedure made possible by Boskalis is a revolutionary way to ensure Carnival Vista’s repairs are completed in a safe, timely and efficient manner, so the ship can resume her popular seven-day schedule from Galveston later this month,” said Lars Ljoen, executive vice president of marine operations for Carnival Cruise Line.

 

BOKA Vanguard is expected to arrive in Bahamian waters on Friday, July 5 to prepare for Carnival Vista’s arrival on July 12. The loading, transport and repairs are expected to take approximately 17 days.

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Rendering: ©Boskalis

About Boka Vanguard

Built in 2012 as Dockwise Vanguard, the Boka Vanguard is designed to lift and transport extremely heavy cargoes of up to 117,000 tonnes and is the largest vessel of its kind ever constructed. It can transport large offshore oil and gas structures, but can also carry other vessels and act as a floating offshore dry dock facility. The Boka Vanguard is unique in that is has an open and flat stern and bow-less deck measuring 275 by 70 metres allowing the vessel to lift and transport cargo’s longer and wider than these deck dimensions.

By filling its ballast tanks, the ship deck is submerged in a controlled manner, allowing it to lift deep draught cargoes. This creates an alternative for dry docking allowing inspections and repairs to be safely and efficiently conducted at a location where traditional dry dock alternatives are not available.

Following the repairs Carnival Vista is expected  to return to Galveston in time for her July 27 voyage and continue with year-round seven-day Caribbean itineraries.

To learn more about Carnival Cruise Line, visit Carnival.com. For reservations, contact any travel agent or call 1-800-CARNIVAL in (USA). Carnival can also be found on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

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