When contracting new MacGREGOR equipment for cruise ships and ferries, many shipowners are buying a comprehensive spares package that will assist in avoiding unnecessary downtime

Many shipowners are taking up the option of buying a comprehensive spares package when contracting new MacGREGOR equipment for cruise ships and ferries. Working in collaboration with the shipowner or final operator, MacGREGOR can propose a list of spare parts to cover the first two to three years in service for its scope of equipment supply.

This list includes all the components that are useful in terms of daily repairs and maintenance, and is based on MacGREGOR's experience of equipment emergencies. It encompasses basic easily installed spares held in stock and used to replace components that would result in equipment downtime should they fail.

Star Cruises, for example, recently contracted such a spares package for the MacGREGOR elevators being installed on its latest 91,000gt newbuilding at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. The package includes all consumable spares plus specified electrical components that could be readily fitted by the ship's crew to maintain elevator operation.

Norwegian Cruise Line purchased a spares package for the refrigeration machinery on board its latest newbuilding, the 78,000gt Norwegian Sun, which was handed over at the end of August by the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Germany. This package includes spare filters, electrical contacts, control units, and items such as valves, gauges and transmitters.

For Celebrity Cruises four 91,000gt Millennium-class ships contracted at French shipbuilder Chantiers de l'Atlantique, spares packages have been supplied for the first three vessels, and a package for the fourth in the series is being prepared in time for the vessel's delivery next year. These package include consumables and components for elevators and escalators.

When putting together such spare parts packages, MacGREGOR's aim is to supply all items that will assist in avoiding unnecessary downtime.

In addition to spare parts, packages can be expanded to include miscellaneous items such as catering equipment. Such a package was provided for the 58,600gt European Vision, completed by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in June for Festival Cruises. In addition to supplying the galley, MacGREGOR was contracted to supply a complete package of accessories as well as spares. Accessories included pots, pans, knives, oven trays, cake tins and other catering equipment, presented in a specific customised catalogue.