With ferry operators worldwide striving to keep up with consumer demands and environmental regulations, decking designer and supplier Bolidt has increased its operations in this particular market sector.
The Netherlands-based company is currently engaged in projects on a wide range of vessel types for owners worldwide.
For example, in the US, NYC DOT Staten Island Ferries has commissioned Bolidt to install the patented Bolideck 525 on three of its new vessels following a successful small-scale trial.
The hardwearing, easy-to-clean system was applied to 4,000 sq m of passenger areas and indoor decks on each of the first two double-ended ferries. Installation work will soon begin on the second ship, with the final vessel due for delivery by Eastern Shipbuilding Group in 2021.
For Bolidt, the project hints at a return to normal service in the US after the global health crisis caused temporary yard and drydock closures, the company said.
“This is one of the biggest ferry projects we have worked on in recent years, for one of the most historic and well-known brands in the sector, a true New York icon,” said Jacco van Overbeek, Director Maritime, Bolidt. “It is also a promising sign of things to come for our operations in the US as the industry recovers from the pandemic.”
Closer to home, Amsterdam’s GVB IJ Ferries has collaborated with Bolidt in recent years with orders for 14 vessels for the domestic market.
This includes a new series order for five fully electric ferries being built at Holland Shipyard Group for routes connecting Amsterdam Centraal to Amsterdam Noord; Bolidt is set to install its Bolideck Select Hard and patented Boligrip solutions on each ship.
Together, the two systems will provide a durable, non-slip surface suitable for the busy foot and bicycle traffic that these small ferries experience on a daily basis.
Work is also under way at Tersan Shipyard, Turkey, on orders for the much larger Havila Voyages’ coastal ferries. Operating in the Norwegian fjords – an emissions control area (ECA) – all four vessels will run on LNG/electric hybrid systems and will feature Bolideck Future Teak on all outdoor decks, with an underlayer of the recently launched, ultra-lightweight patented Boliscreed 400 ULW to further support sustainability objectives.
Bolidt has also agreed a contract for the supply of flooring solutions for Tallink’s LNG-powered fast ferry to operate on the Tallinn/Helsinki route. Built for speed and efficiency, the vessel will also feature Bolideck Future Teak.
Alongside its contracts in the US and European markets, Bolidt is also involved in several projects in China.
“Here at Bolidt we continue to be commissioned to supply and refit ferries of all kinds, from small domestic passenger boats to larger sea-going vessels. Whether they’re looking to improve sustainability or simply provide a better experience for passengers, owners and designers as nearby as Amsterdam and as far away as China rely on our 50 years of experience in providing innovative solutions in ship decking,” van Overbeek said.
