Metamorphosis - Cruise Ship Portal

The call of Cartagena
In 2009 the port of Cartagena received
49 cruise calls and 67,931 passengers.
Compared to 2008, this was a 29%
increase in the number of calls and a
94% increase in the number of
passengers. The vessels that visited
Cartagena were the Grand Princess,
Costa Marina, Celebrity Equinox and
Solstice, AIDAbella, among others. This
year will see more than 70 cruise calls
In 2009, Cartagena received nearly 68,000 passengers.
With occupancy rates on every cruise
executive’s mind, maintaining vessels
within regulatory compliance while in
service without jeopardising the itinerary,
safety and efficiency are vital to
commercial success today.
Incorporating the unique services
provided by the Subsea Solutions
Alliance (SSA) has allowed cruise vessel
operators to achieve operational
efficiency and equipment performance
with minimal periods spent in dry dock.
By reducing off-hire maintenance to one
or two cruises every five years,
occupancy rates have remained strong,
even in a downturn.
Working with original equipment
manufacturers (OEM) of propulsion
equipment, shaft seals, thrusters, steering
and stability equipment, the SSA applies
underwater maintenance and repair
processes to specific equipment in a wet
carrying more than 100,000 passengers.
In May 2008, an initiative was set up
in Cartagena whereby associated retail
partners guaranteed the opening of their
establishments when a cruise with more
than 300 passengers calls. This service
also includes a call centre, which
handles passenger inquiries.
The Roman Theatre of Cartagena was
discovered in 1987, one of the most
Further information: Port of Cartagena
Tel: +34 968 325 800 Fax: +34 968 325 815 Email: cartagena@apc.es Web: www.apc.es
and dry environment based
on the OEM’s guidelines
and regulatory requirements
within the vessel’s itinerary.
Because delays and
cancellations impact cruise
lines significantly, the SSA
has developed maintenance
and repair processes that
take into account the
vessel’s obligations. This
allows the OEM, the cruise
line and the SSA to develop
innovative solutions with
defined plans and contingencies.
Maintenance and repair in the water
provides the most value to today’s
competitive cruise industry market.
The SSA maintains equipment
available on a global basis along with
a highly skilled workforce of diver/
technicians. With two training centres in
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Maintenance below the waterline
The SSA maintains a dedicated full-time workforce of
140 diver/technicians worldwide.
Further information: Subsea Solutions Alliance
Tel: +1 914 826 0045 Email: Subseasolutions@comcast.net Website: www.subseasolutions.com
amazing finds of the town’s archaeology.
With a capacity of 6,000 spectators, it
consisted of a stage, seating, gardens,
cloisters and leisure areas.
The commemorative inscriptions
indicate that it was built in the late 1st
century. The theatre is linked by
subterranean tunnels to the palace
Pascual de Riquelme.
In 1998 the ancient city of Caravaca
de la Cruz, located in the north-west of
the region of Murcia, was declared a
Holy City, making it the fifth city in the
world, along with Santiago de
Compostela, Santo Toribio de Liébana,
Rome and Jerusalem. In 2010, Caravaca
celebrates its jubilee, an event that
occurs every seven years, and expects
visits from thousands of pilgrims. The
Santísima and Vera Cruz Sanctuary is
made up of the sanctuary and the walled
area with 14 towers. �
operation (and a third under
construction) the SSA continues to
develop personnel with skills necessary
to provide top-notch services accepted
and warranted through OEMs globally
The SSA remains a cruise industry
leader in underwater equipment
maintenance and repair. �
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