It-Tarzna tlesti kuntratt ta' 2 miljun dollaru fuq il-vapur tal-passiggieri Carousel

It-Tarzna ta' Malta æadha kif temmet kuntratt ta' $2,000,000 ta' tiswija íenerali lill-vapur lussuú tal-passiííieri Carousel tal-Kumpanija Sun Cruises, waóda mill-aqwa fis-swieq tal-cruises. It-Tarzna rebóet il-kuntratt wara kompetizzjoni óarxa minn tarznara oóra, fl-Italja u fil-Portugall, li æamlu óilithom ukoll biex jiksbuh u fejn is-sidien kienu diía` kisbu riúultati tajba f'xoæol ta' tiswija.

Il-Carousel se jitlaq minn Malta nhar is-Sibt, b'aktar minn elf turist fuqu, li gejjin Malta biex jitilqu æal cruise madwar il-Mediterran. Mill-Mediterran il-vapur jibqa' sejjer il-Karibew æal aktar cruises f'dawk l-ibóra.

Is-sidien tal-kumpannija Sun Cruises faóóru l-kalibru æoli tax-xoæol fit-Tarzna ta' Malta u l-effiðjenza ta' din l-azjenda. Dan ix-xoæol qed ióajjarhom jibaætu aktar vapuri hawn Malta.

It-Tarzna ta' Malta bdiet tinnegozja mas-Sun Cruises madwar æaxar xhur ilu meta s-Sidien kienu qeædin iqisu jaæmlux tibdil mill-qieæ fil-vapur.

Il-Carousel daóal fit-Tarzna ta' Malta, fil-baðir numru 6, nhar il-Óadd 26 ta' Ottubru, fl-10.00 ta' bil-lejl u x-xoæol inæata bidu minnufih. L-æan ewlieni tax-xoæol kien il-bdil tal-Íeneratur tal-Carouselfejn tneóóew sitt Wartsila Diesel u flokhom tqieædu óames Dewtz Diesel íodda. Ma' l-istallazzjoni sar tibdil sóió tax-xoæol tal-pajpijiet, fosthom it-tqeæid sóió tas-sistemi tad-dawl u elettroniði u t-tisóió ta' l-azzar.

Barra minn bosta xoæol ieóor, saret tiswija liú-úewí stabilizzanti tal-vapur, waqt li n-naóa ta' taót l-ilma næatat il-blasting u íiet miúbuæa.

Bil-æan li l-Carousel jimxi mar-regoli l-íodda Solas li bihom jikseb Ðertifikat tal-Passiííieri, æadd kbir ta' mkejjen fih tbiddlu bl-azzar u b'materjal kontra l-óruq skond dawn ir-regoli.

Tneóóew bejn wieóed u ieóor 1700 metru kwadrat ta' Astro Turf. Dawn il-gverti tnaddfu mekkanikament u núebæu biex jaætu profil li jkun jaqbel mal-kompoúizzjoni ídida Bolidt li trid tiíi applikata.

Tneóóew radars qodma u flokhom tqieædu oórajn íodda.

It-tiswijiet kuntrattwali saru lkoll fiú-úmien miftiehem ta' 26 jum. Ix-xoæol kollu fuq il-magni ewlenin u awúiljarji sar b'sodisfazzjon kbir æas-sidien tal-vapur.

Wara li l-vapur kien ilu t-Tarzna 18-il jum, sar æaræar parzjali biex setæu jinbnew il-provi tal-magni. Imbaæad sar l-æaræar sóió u l-vapur inóareí mill-baðir fil-25 ta' Novembru.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

Malta Drydocks has successfully finished a $2,000,000 contract for a general refit of the luxury cruise liner Carousel, owned by Sun Cruises, one of the main companies in the cruises market. Malta Drydocks won the contract against stiff competition from Italian and Portuguese dockyards, which has already worked for Sun Cruises.

Carousel leaves Malta on Saturday, with 1,000 tourists coming over to the Island for a Mediterranean cruise. The liner will eventually leave the Mediterranean for the Caribbean for more cruises in those seas.

The Sun Cruises owners lauded the high professional level of work at the Drydocks and the yard's efficiency. The successful result is expected to attract more liners to dock in Malta.

Malta Drydocks started negotiations with Sun Cruises about ten months ago when the Owners were considering a major conversion.

Carousel entered Malta Drydocks, in No.6 dock, on Sunday, 26 October at 22.00 hrs and work commenced immediately. The main purpose of work was the conversion of the generating plant of the vessel, where six Wartsila Diesel were removed and fine new Dewtz Diesel were installed through the shipside of the vessel. The installation also involved a complete modification of pipe work, including the entire installation of electrical and electronic systems, steel reinforcement being carried out to the underside of the generators flat deck.

Main engine clutches and coolers were removed to shop overhaul. All sea valves and other services valves were reconditioned, while a bow thruster was removed to shop overhaul. Repairs were carried out to both ship stabilizers. The starboard tail shaft was removed for survey purposes. Blasting and painting was carried out to the underwater area of the vessel.

In order for the vessel to comply with the new Solas regulations and obtain a passenger certificate, a good number of locations were modified with steel and fire-proof material to fitting Solas requirements. Approximately 1,700 square metres of Astro Turf were removed. These decks were mechanically cleaned and vacuum blasted. They were painted to provide a profile compatible for the new composition called Bolidt to be applied.

After 18 days of the vessel's stay in dock, a partial flood was carried out to enable machinery trials to commence. The dock was subsequently flooded and the vessel taken out of dock to a berth on 25 November.

Carousel proceeded for sea trials on 27 November. After sea trials she will go to a passenger berth where 1,117 passengers will board the gracious liner after which she sails out on 29 November.