Pride indeed!

Uffe Nyborg Johansen (left) with Tage Blomberg and Peter Kooistra.

When Pride of Telemark hit the pier in Hirtshals in Denmark, all the major service providers in Northern Jutland started chasing this opportunity for a huge order covering a complete overhaul of the ferry. The order was placed with Wärtsilä. Signing the contract was evidence that our strategy to be a Total Service Provider is successful. And not just any provider, but the preferred one.

Strategy turned into practice. Wärtsilä was able to comply with one of the key requirements of the owner and their insurance company: that the total assignment be undertaken by one company. “This assignment consists of three parts, each of which fits one of our Services categories: Engine Services – repair and overhaul of two main engines and five auxiliary engines; Automation Services – replacement of all electrical and automation equipment in the control and engine rooms; and finally Ship Services – renewal of 31 cabins, walking areas, etc., which is handled by sub-suppliers,” explains Uffe Nyborg Johansen, President and General Manager of Services in Denmark. “Operating in this way really enables us to strengthen our position as a Total Service Provider.”

Early bird catches the worm. “We have handled big projects like this before. What makes this case unique is the scale and complexity of the project plus the short notice given to put the bid together,” says Bo Lindy Jensen, Service Sales Manager. Late last October, Bo met surveyor Søren H. Pedersen from Aalborg Surveyor Association in connection with another job at the Wärtsilä quayside in Hirtshals, and found out that Norwegian Hull Club, a mutual marine insurance company, was looking for a turnkey contract provider. Shortly thereafter a meeting was arranged in Hirtshals, with participants from the insurance company, surveyor association and Wärtsilä. One week was given to completethe quotation for the total contract. “We immediately established full co-operation with our excellent automation experts in Holland. They co-inspected the ferry with us in Gothenburg, focusing on the automation part of the assignment. In November, representatives from all parties went through the initial contract, and the final contract was signed already by mid-December.”

Heroes of Telemark with hands-on.
Having overall responsibility for the entire project, Wärtsilä is able to provide the shipowner with added value through better quality control and efficiency management during this large-scale renovation. “We have had to be innovative regarding all the practicalities onboard,” tells Henrik Svendsen from Ship Services. “You must remember that the ship’s own systems are not in function. For example, a lot of water is still needed all the time, plus a sewage system to get rid of it. Special emphasis is paid on the environmental aspect. Danish environmental legislation is rather strict. Waste is sorted into several different containers for scrap iron, inflammable waste, etc. A haulage contractor picks up the waste, and if it has not been sorted properly, he will do so by hand,” Henrik describes. Lars Larsen and Morten Hejlesen, two Ship Services engineers, know what it means in practice to dismantle and recondition the approximately 70 pumps onboard. The long distances to fetch tools mean that the entire process must be thought through carefully before starting the work. On the other hand, participating in a project of this scale provides great opportunities to learn on the job. Morten has been with Wärtsilä for only nine months, and he is very pleased with the experience. “It’s really nice to try one’s wings and work outside the workshop or quay in Hirtshals. People from many countries are working together, and this job has really opened my eyes to how much more Wärtsilä is than the company in Hirtshals. I can see many opportunities within Wärtsilä, and it feels good,” Morten explains. Ship Services has established a regular workshop in the original ferry workshop, where Brian Frederiksen works. He prepares the cable trays which cover most of the ceilings. He too is impressed by the good co-operation ‘across borders’. “We communicate in English and all get along very well,” he confirms. The automation part of the contract is by far the most extensive and complex. All electrical equipment from deck three and downwards needs to be replaced. “During the first three weeks of the project, the automation guys did nothing but mark off, mark off and mark off,” Brian Enevoldsen reports. “Those who have seen the nests of cables understand why this job is so vital. Everything must be noted, listed and marked in such an accurate way that it can all be recreated. For the untrained eye this surely looked absolutely confusing…kilometre upon kilometre, ton upon ton of cable has been cut down and removed.”

Three projects under one umbrella. Wärtsilä’s other work in Denmark cannot come to a standstill because of this huge project. This calls for excellent project management. The job was assigned to Peter Kooistra from Holland, who has plenty of experience. In co-operation with the site foremen, he prepares the plans that people in Automation, Engine and Ship Services carry out. This is done by daily briefings and weekly status meetings, with written minutes duly kept to track things. “We are running three projects under one umbrella,” he describes. “The deadlines have been met and the atmosphere onboard is excellent. We are bound to face challenges along the way, for example in commissioning. However, I am confident that we’ll succeed because we have sufficient knowledge onboard,” Peter says. “This is a really exciting project, and it feels so good to be part of it – opening new doors for Wärtsilä,” he summarizes.

Specialist knowledge, interaction – and attitude. Henk Kok, a Wärtsilä automation employee from Holland, works in his office trailer on the third car deck. The walls of the trailer are covered with installation drawings. “There are so many disciplines involved in this project. We have a lot of meetings, followed by drawing up detailed minutes in order to keep everyone properly informed. Here onboard the automation team has five foremen forwarding our messages and decisions to the employees. I would indeed say that communication is the number one key issue in this project. Another priority is respect. Seeing the close and respectful interaction of all these specialists from all around the world – humble, appreciative of their colleagues, dedicated to their job and willing to carry responsibility – that’s exactly what Wärtsilä is about,” Henk concludes.