Cruise Ship to Get Scrubber Ahead of Schedule

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Friday August 15, 2014

Cunard Line has cancelled two cruises and brought forward the dry docking of its 2,000 passenger cruise ship Queen Victoria, which will now have an exhaust gas scrubber fitted in January 2015, Cruise and Ferry reports.

The dry dock work, to take place at Blohm+Voss in Hamburg, Germany, was originally scheduled for December 2015.

The change was prompted by the need to replace a bearing on one of Queen Victoria’s ABB Azipod propulsion units, something Cunard Line said has no impact on safety but its replacement would be "timely" prior to the ship’s "Round World Cruise" beginning January 20, 2015.

The work will also see the vessel, launched in 2007, fitted with expanded shops and nine new cabins.

"Queen Victoria’s multi-million pound refit will ensure this much-loved ship remains in tip-top condition for her World Cruise in 2015 and beyond," said Angus Struthers, Cunard director.

"While we are sorry to be cancelling the two cruises, we are looking forward to welcoming all those affected back aboard a Cunard ship in the near future, perhaps on Queen Victoria or Queen Elizabeth, both of which will be sailing in 2015 fresh from their makeovers."

Last month, David Dingle, Chief Executive of Cunard Line's parent company Carnival UK, said the industry needs more flexibility in the implementation of new sulfur limits in Europe's Emissions Control Areas (ECAs) to allow it to fit ships with scrubbers.

Ship & Bunker News Team
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