STX Europe has signed contracts for modernising a cruise vessel for Carnival Cruise Lines and two tankers for Neste Shipping.

MS Sensation of CCL will get 98 additional passenger cabin balconies as well as new black and grey water piping during the retrofit. MT Palva and Stena Poseidon of Neste will get crew accommodation refurbishing.

The work onboard the oil tankers will be done while the vessels are in operation. The cruise vessel retrofit will be performed at Grand Bahama Shipyard during January and February 2009.

In addition to ship building STX Europe has established a good reputation in providing lifecycle services. The intention is to respond to the needs of our newbuild customers thorough the whole life cycle of the vessels we have built and also offer upgrading and maintenance service to other customers.

Before the new contracts the orderbook of STX Europe’s yards includes four modernisations: the yard in Rauma is converting a ferry to an expedition cruise vessel for Canadian G.A.P Adventures and an offshore barge for Norwegian Aker Stord. The Helsinki yard is converting two ro-ro-vessels for Finnlines.

There are all sorts of new rules and regulations coming out, to which the industry and ships will have to adapt. The market for retrofits and refurbishments according to the new rules as well as ship modernizations and lengthenings are expected to grow significantly over the next few years. In order to respond to the demand STX Europe has a special Lifecycle Services division which already for some years has been offering ship upgrades, modifications and conversions.

“There is tremendous growth in the future demand of lifecycle services, as the newbuildings of earlier decades will need upgrades. Environmental awareness is also an important driver, as well as cutting operational costs”, says Vesa Marttinen, VP Lifecycle Services. “STX Europe has solutions and technologies for minimizing environmental impacts” Marttinen concludes.