In just 5 weeks over the course of November and into December 2019, Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam (DSAm) completed extensive annual maintenance and repair programs on 3 cruises ships ahead of the winter season.
Astor, Magellan, and Marco Polo are operated by the UK company Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV).
First to dock at DSAm was the 46,000 GT CMV Magellan for a 4-week schedule of works including inspections and comprehensive cleaning, repairs to the auxiliary and main engines, an overhaul of the stern and bow thrusters, and servicing of the liferafts. Additional repairs were identified and for Magellan, it involved steel repairs to a number of tanks.
A couple of days after the arrival of Magellan the 22,080 GT CMV Marco Polo arrived in dry dock #3 for similar works that lasted 3 weeks, after which the similarly-sized CMV Astor took her place for 9 days of maintenance that included pipe renewals, renewal of the stern tube seals, and repairs to the ship's main engine intercoolers.
The drydocking program called for high flexibility from the DSAm team as the scope of these projects evolved over real-time. In addition to the steel repairs, the decision was made by the cruise company to give the first two ships a whole new exterior look in order to acknowledge their entry into the new market – French cruise. They each received a bright blue paint scheme replacing their previous white and deep blue livery along with new logos.