Team Electric completed the electrical installation and refit work during Royal Caribbean’s recent drydocking and upgrade of ‘Allure of the Seas’.
Despite bad weather, tight deadlines, and complex co-ordination across multiple contractors and work streams, Team Electric showed its adaptability and technical expertise to deliver the full scope of work on schedule, the company said.
With a total workforce of 60 skilled electricians on site, the company was separately contracted by three turnkey suppliers — Almaco, Makinen, and LMG — to undertake electrical work across the ship’s hotel areas, galleys, and public spaces.
This project marked a return to familiar territory for Team Electric, which was also involved in her original construction at MEYER Turku Shipyard in 2009.
The workload included the installation of 121 km of electrical cabling and 4,500 m of cable trays, across a project involving key technical areas, as well as substantial hotel work. Among tasks that extended to 600 individual material line items, Team Electric fitted nearly 2,000 lights.
The company’s hotel sector scope covered 61 new cabins on Decks 11, 12, and 14 that were built within a prefabricated aluminum block and craned onto the ship. These new spaces included corridors, AC rooms, and associated technical infrastructure.
In addition, Team Electric delivered full electrical installations for the new Mason Jar restaurant and bar, as well as several refurbished galley spaces and three public areas, including a Crown Lounge and a teens’ gaming zone.
On the technical side, Team Electric upgraded a substantial portion of the ship’s navigation and communication systems, including the full cabling of the bridge with 9 km of new wiring fitted.
A turnkey delivery of Fugro’s OceanStar system included not just cabling but also installation, commissioning, and user training, led by certified company engineers.
“The weather was brutal. 30 days of torrential rain in a 40-day drydock,” said Daniel Brown, Team Electric Project Manager.
“It had a knock-on effect on every trade, but we managed to push through and keep the programme on track.”
High winds frequently delayed crane operations and other key activities. Yet, through meticulous planning and on-the-ground flexibility, Team Electric met all of the critical deadlines.
The project’s compressed drydocking period presented a further challenge. As Caj Persson, Technical Project Lead, explained: “They cut the drydock time compared to the sister vessel ‘Oasis of the Seas’ by over 10 days. That meant everything had to be done faster, with no compromise on quality.”
Team Electric’s proven reputation in cruise ship refits was a key factor in securing the contract. “We’re well known in the industry for delivering complex and multi-faceted electrical refits, especially cabins and public areas,” Brown added.
“We’re not always the cheapest, but clients know we get the job done on time and to the highest standards.”
That reliability also paid off during the refit, when a fourth contractor without an on board electrical team asked Team Electric to step in and support its work, sparking another relationship that is set to continue beyond this project.
The working relationship with Royal Caribbean also proved crucial. “We know the fleet, we’ve been with them since these keels were laid,” said Persson.
“That familiarity, and our long-standing relationship with partners like Foreship, made the co-ordination smoother, even under pressure.”
Unlike newbuildings, refits present constantly shifting priorities and constraints. As Brown explained: “In public areas especially, we can’t even install light fittings until the ceiling is in. It takes extreme co-ordination. Every task affects the next.”
From cabin design to bridge cabling, and from substations to galleys, the ‘Allure of the Seas’ project exemplified Team Electric’s full-spectrum capabilities. By blending technical know-how with practical execution, the company once again proved why it’s the preferred electrical partner for cruise ship refits worldwide, it claimed.
