Cruise ship to Malta

Cunard Line`s

Royal Viking Sun

has been stemmed to Malta Drydocks for a $3.2 million refit. Work will take 13 days from September 19, and includes significant refurbishment of passenger areas and penthouse suites. Cunard has appointed Athens-based AMK Architects and Designers to handle design. The ship will also undergo routine drydocking survey and maintenance work, including exterior coating.

For the past 18 months Malta Drydocks has been working to cut losses. Internal restructuring and diversification is reducing the cost base, while better planning and the introduction of multi-skilling is raising productivity. The yard is also marketing itself more aggressively overseas. Results for the first half of 1998 show significant improvement, with losses falling to M£2.5 million from M£5 million for the same period in 1997.

Block booking for Shipdock

Shipdock Amsterdam has won a major three ship block booking from P&O Nedlloyd to drydock and modify the container vessels New Zealand Pacific, Mairangi Bay and Resolution Bay.

Along with routine drydock and survey work, stowage arrangements on the three ships will be altered and changes made to the reefer point system, involving extensive electrical installation and ventilation work. Dockings will run consecutively from early September to mid November, with each ship staying four weeks at the yard.