Annual report 2019

49

“WE HAD NEVER LOADED AN IMAX THEATRE, RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, SWIMMING POOLS, SLIDES, A GOLF COURSE AND A CREW OF 250 PEOPLE IN ONE SINGLE MOVEMENT”

WITHIN A WEEK The contract was signed fve days after the initial contact and was followed by the two-week mobilization voyage from England to the Bahamas during which Van de Peppel and his colleagues prepared the outftting of the BOKA Vanguard. This included moving a buoyancy casing and installing the cribbing and the connections for cooling water. “The work started immediately upon arrival and the loading operation could start within a week,” Van de Peppel said. “To safeguard stability, a trim of seven meters between the bow and the stern of the Vanguard was maintained during the loading and unloading operation.” PRECISION The loading operation was a genuine precision job. Once the BOKA Vanguard had been submerged to the right depth, the Carnival Vista was positioned above the deck of the BOKA Vanguard under its own power with assistance from four tugs, including the Boskalis anchor handling tug Sovereign. “The cruise vessel is almost 50 meters longer than the Vanguard so it stuck out slightly on either side. That simplifed the work which was done at the Vista’s stern from a working vessel. Before the repairs started, we connected our cooling water supply and conducted an evacuation exercise for the crew of the Carnival Vista who stayed on board. Carnival was kind enough to invite us on board the Vista for a lunch and a guided tour of this very special cargo,” a smiling Van de Peppel said. EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY “One of the challenges was that the project took place during the hurricane season. As a result, we had to be prepared for a possible interruption but, fortunately, the weather conditions remained excellent. The repair works were completed in six days. An effcient float-off operation brought a smooth project to an end: it took a week less than the client had anticipated. Carnival was even able to plan an additional last-minute cruise,” Van de Peppel said. “This was an excellent opportunity for Boskalis to show that we can also handle this special kind of work.”

Heavy transport vessel BOKA Vanguard lifting the cruise vessel Carnival Vista out of the water