DSAm is carrying the work out one vessel at a time. Viking Idi was the first of the six to arrive at the yard in late December 2015. Sister ship Viking Idun followed and then subsequently Viking Kvasir, Viking Kara, Viking Hlin and Viking Gullveig will undergo refurb. With each vessel spending an average of 10-11 days at the yard, the entire contract will be completed by early March.
The primary scope of work for all six longships comprises stern frame modifications necessary to prevent propeller damage during turning manoeuvres in canals and other narrow waterways. The solution is to install an additional steel construction reaching from the seawater inlet chest all the way to the stern. To reduce the time spent at the yard, Damen is prefabricating the steel components in advance.
The DSAm team will also carry out any necessary maintenance on the vessels whilst they have them in drydock. For example, Viking Idi needed a replacement port propeller. Furthermore, the vertical sides of her hull and the seawater inlet chest box coolers were high-pressure washed and cleaned.
Amsterdam is a key turnaround port for the company’s European river cruise itineraries. The DSAm site, next to the Amsterdam cruise terminal, is the ideal location to perform routine, as well as priority, dockings for Viking‘s large fleet.
'We have got to know Viking’s river cruise vessels quite well over the last couple of years, completing five identical stern modifications to part of their fleet already,' comments DSAm project manager Arnold Bregman. 'With six vessels one after the other, we will be undocking the completed vessel and docking the next one on the same day. They’ll all be in our number one drydock which is perfect for river cruise vessels.'
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