TTS Review 6 - TTS Group ASA

Picture by kind permission of Aker Yards
Cruise
Also in the Baltic, there are two TTS-equipped RoPax vessels
for Swedish ferry line Destination Gotland, both featuring a
three-ramp stern arrangement and bow equipment.
The Mediterranean is another area of successful RoPax
activity, where TTS has supplied several ships to Greek, Italian
and French owners. On the English Channel, TTS has supplied
equipment for two ships built to serve Seafrance’s busy Dover to
Calais route, and ST Marine in Singapore is constructing a RoPax
ship for Louis Dreyfus Lines’ (LDL) Portsmouth to Le Havre
service. The latter is a textbook example of the RoPax trend:
formerly operated by P&O Ferries, the route was taken over by
LDL after the previous operator concluded it was a loss-maker.
The new service, focusing more on freight traffic except during
the key summer season, has been a success, and LDL, which
originally chartered a ship to serve the route, has made the big
step of investing in a new vessel.
Below: one of four Tallink vessels using TTS hoistable car deck
technology. Right: TTS-designed three-ramp stern arrangement for M/S
Gotland – and Navigator of the Seas carrying a similar complement of
TTS doors to Independence of the Seas, delivered in April 2008
10 TTS Review • April 2008
The booming cruise market
Another passenger market that has boomed in recent years is
the cruise business. Possibly because of the ageing population in
many Western countries, cruises have become increasingly
popular of late, and cruise lines have been busy ordering new
ships to serve this demand. “We have had good success in the
cruise market, because we’ve developed a range of reliable
products, invested in a dedicated installation team and spent
time and effort building our relationships with the shipyards
and owners,” says Rosén.
In the cruise market, TTS has specialised in the provision and
installation of side doors, tender platforms, provision lifts,
gangway systems and baggage handling systems. “On large
cruise ships which spend only a short time in port, getting
passengers on and off the vessel quickly and efficiently is of
high importance, and the effectiveness of our equipment is
vital,” says Rosén.
“Our Gothenburg office has been supplier to a very long and
impressive series for RCCL at Aker Yards, Finland, among which
is the Independence of the Seas, delivered in April this year. We
now have a contract to supply equipment to two ships currently
building at Aker Yards in St. Nazaire for NCL, and our Bergen
office has two ships also building in St. Nazaire for MSC.”