Major works on cruise liners at Malta Shipyards for Pullmantur ships

**Ally** · 01-12-2008, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Pullmantur Cruises have awarded Malta Shipyards a multi-million euro contract of extensive works over a four-week period on its vessels. The cruise company said the contact is commercially significant.

The Pullmantur cruise liner Oceanic is also returning to Malta after an absence of more than four years, having called here for almost 100 visits between the end of 2001 and the end of 2003. During this period the ship brought some 120,000 tourists and was utilised by another 3,000 Maltese holidaymakers who took one-week Mediterranean cruises out of Valletta.

The Oceanic was the first ship to join the newly set up Pullmantur Cruises fleet in early 2001. Originally built as a fast ocean-liner for Atlantic crossings, the ship was eventually converted into a cruise liner but still kept its distinct and elegant features that still give it its unique character with grand classy lounges and spacious open decks.

It was during Pullmantur’s return to Malta (after an absence of four years) last summer that a new chapter of the happy relationship between the Spanish company and the island was opened, Pullmantur said.

During a lunch following the official ceremony marking the first call of the company’s TSS Sky Wonder, Competitiveness and Communications Minister Censu Galea suggested to the captain that Pullmantur should consider using Malta Shipyards for works required by the company’s vessels. Just six months after this conversation, Pullmantur said, it had in fact awarded a multi-million euro contract that will see extensive works being undertaken at Malta Shipyards over a four-week period.

The fact that Malta Shipyards won this contract was not only commercially significant, it added, it was also politically and symbolically important for a number of reasons. “First of all this is one of the largest, if not the largest cruise ship ever to be repaired in Malta; secondly it is one of the first cruise ships ever to fly the Maltese flag since it is registered in Valletta; and finally since Pullmantur is owned by world cruise giant Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL), the contract could open the door for more commissions involving other vessels in the 35-ship RCCL fleet which could heavily influence the future of Malta’s own ship-repair industry.”

Pullmantur has appointed Mondial as its ship agents in Malta. Mondial also act as exclusive sales agents for Pullmantur and are offering Pullmantur cruise holidays to the Caribbean, North Europe, and even Mediterranean cruises out of Valletta in summer 2008 on board the MS Ocean Dream.

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