Adapting a RoRo ship for another route or to comply with new regulations is a common commitment for MacGREGOR specialist teams, who can claim unrivalled experience in enhancing watertight security

Conversion projects were dictated when the Danish group DFDS acquired two new RoPax ferries ordered by an Italian owner from the Szcecin yard in Poland. Completed last year, Dana Gloria and Dana Sirena were originally intended for Mediterranean service and did not comply with the Stockholm Agreement safety regulations covering the routes anticipated by DFDS.

A key requirement was the installation of flood control doors to act as transverse watertight barriers a MacGREGOR speciality before the ferries could operate on the prime DFDS service linking Esbjerg in Denmark and Harwich in England. The operator also wanted to install extra cabins and convert the passenger amenities to its own standards.

DFDS commissioned MacGREGOR to execute the flood control door installations on a turn-key basis with a very short lead-time. The first system was designed, fabricated and installed on Dana Gloria within less than three months at Fredericia in Denmark.

Sistership Dana Sirena then underwent a more complex conversion at the Polish yard Remontowa allowing it to replace Dana Gloria in a fully upgraded Esbjerg-Harwich service. Capacity was doubled to 600 passengers and accommodation provided in 196 cabins, and the public areas expanded and enhanced to DFDS standards. A flood control door outfit was installed by MacGREGOR.

MacGREGOR efforts were appreciated by DFDS director Claus Kruse: "We had a good and constructive co-operation with the installation of flood control doors. It was essential for us to get the doors installed quickly and for the agreed short delivery time to be kept. MacGREGOR fulfilled its undertaking. Overall, we are happy with the co-operation with MacGREGOR on this project as well as earlier projects, where we always received professional assistance and guidance."