Foreship - Experts & Thought Leaders

Team Electric rose to some special challenges in its successful completion of electrical installation and refit work during Royal Caribbean’s recent high profile drydocking and ‘amplification’ of Allure of the Seas. Despite heavy weather, tight deadlines, and complex coordination across multiple contractors and workstreams, Team Electric showcased its hallmark adaptability and technical expertise to deliver the full scope of work on schedule. Three turnkey suppliers With a total workforce of 60 skilled electricians on site, Team Electric was engaged separately by three turnkey suppliers — Almaco, Makinen, and LMG — to execute electrical works across hotel areas, galleys, and public spaces on board the cruise ship. The project marked a return to familiar territory for Team Electric, which was also involved in the original construction of Allure of the Seas in Turku Shipyard in 2009. Project highlights Team Electric delivered full electrical works for the new Mason Jar restaurant and bar Achievements included the installation of 121 kilometres of electrical cabling and 4,500 metres 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-side scope covered 61 new cabins on decks 11, 12, and 14 that were built within a prefabricated aluminium block and craned onto the ship. These new spaces included corridors, AC rooms, and associated technical infrastructure. In addition, Team Electric delivered full electrical works 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 kilometres of new wiring. A turnkey delivery of Fugro’s OceanStar system included not just cabling but also installation, commissioning, and user training, led by certified Team Electric engineers. Rising to the challenge “The weather was brutal. 30 days of torrential rain in a 40-day dry dock,” said Daniel Brown, Project Manager at Team Electric. “It had a knock-on effect on every trade, but we managed to push through and keep the program on track.” Meticulous planning and on-the-ground flexibility, Team Electric met all critical deadlines High winds frequently delayed crane operations and other key activities. Yet, through meticulous planning and on-the-ground flexibility, Team Electric met all critical deadlines. The project’s compressed dry dock period presented a further challenge. As Caj Persson, Technical Project Lead, explained: “They cut the dry dock 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.” Reliability pays 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,” said Daniel Brown. “We’re not always the cheapest, but clients know we get the job done on time and to the highest standards.” Fourth contractor with no onboard electrical team asked Team Electric to step in and support their work That reliability also paid off during the refit, when a fourth contractor with no onboard electrical team asked Team Electric to step in and support their 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 coordination smoother, even under pressure.” Integrated installation Unlike newbuilds, refits present constantly shifting priorities and constraints. As Daniel Brown explained: “In public areas especially, we can’t even install light fittings until the ceiling is in. It takes extreme coordination. Every task affects the next.” From cabin design to bridge cabling, and from substations to galleys, the Allure of the Seas project exemplifies 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.

Naval architecture and engineering consultancy Foreship is supporting Wasaline in delivering a breakthrough battery upgrade on MV Aurora Botnia that will see the ferry’s energy storage capacity increase nearly sixfold. The world-first retrofit will combine two battery chemistries in a hybrid solution that is expected to cut annual CO₂ emissions by up to 23%. Relationship between Wasaline and Foreship Foreship provided comprehensive technical and strategic support for the retrofit Building on a long-standing relationship with Wasaline that began during the vessel’s initial design phase, Foreship provided comprehensive technical and strategic support for the retrofit. The work included an extensive feasibility study covering technical impact evaluation, emissions modelling and cost analysis, later followed by supplier evaluation, classification design, engineering support, and implementation assistance. Ambitious hybrid conversion “This is one of the most technically ambitious hybrid conversions yet attempted on a ro-pax ferry,” said Joonatan Haukilehto, Head of New Technologies at Foreship. “By integrating high-power NMC batteries with energy dense LFP batteries, we have enabled Aurora Botnia to draw on the unique strengths of both battery chemistries. All of this has been achieved without requiring major changes to the vessel’s electrical infrastructure. To our knowledge, it is the first time this dual-battery approach has been realised in a maritime retrofit.” Benefits of the upgrade The upgrade increases the vessel’s total battery capacity from 2.2 MWh to 12.6 MWh. Scheduled for commissioning in early 2026 and recharged by renewable shore electricity during port stays, the enlarged battery setup will supply up to 20% of the vessel’s total energy demand. This will deliver enhanced energy efficiency throughout its 1,000-plus annual voyages by enabling the LNG-fueled powerplant to operate continuously at its highest efficiency, while using the minimum number of generating sets. Quayside power use is already zero emissions, thanks to the shore power infrastructure at both ports of call. Support from Foreship Foreship supported Wasaline in optimising the retrofit for commercial and regulatory impacts Foreship supported Wasaline in optimising the retrofit for commercial and regulatory impacts. Using emissions modelling aligned with the EU Emissions Trading System and FuelEU Maritime, the consultancy demonstrated how the combination of the new battery capacity with existing LNG and bio-LNG fuel use could enable compliance through to the 2040s. It also creates opportunities for Wasaline to sell surplus emission allowances. Words from Wasaline Managing Director “From the beginning, Aurora Botnia was built to evolve, and Foreship has been with us at every step of that journey,” said Peter Ståhlberg, Managing Director of Wasaline. “This latest upgrade represents a significant leap toward our 2030 climate goals. By integrating advanced battery solutions and maximising our use of clean shore power, we are proving that sustainable ferry transport is wholly viable. Foreship’s deep expertise and responsive support have been instrumental in making that a reality.” Foreship to provide ongoing assistance Foreship expects to provide ongoing assistance during the detail engineering, installation, and commissioning phases, including technical oversight, site supervision, and functional integration support. The company’s work on Aurora Botnia builds upon more than a decade of pioneering battery and hybrid system design for ferries, cruise ships, and specialised vessels, with over 60 battery system projects completed. Foreship CEO’s words “This project demonstrates what is possible when owners take a strategic approach to compliance and decarbonisation,” said Lauri Haavisto, CEO, Foreship Group Ltd. “With careful planning and the right partner, retrofit does not mean compromise. It can unlock lasting competitive advantage.”

Foreship expertise in energy efficiency and sustainability will be central to optimising the performance of two new ro-pax ferries on their delivery into west Mediterranean services connecting Marseille and Corsica in 2027. The ships, due to be delivered to CMA CGM subsidiary La Méridionale, will be distinguished not only by powerplants that support dual fuel strategies for low carbon operations at sea but by enough battery power to enable zero-emission port stays. Concept design work Foreship developed the GA and outline specifications for the ships Offering capacity for 1,000 passengers and 2,500 lane metres of freight, the 180m long ships have been developed to modernise operations on the crossing between Marseille and Corsica.  Commissioned to provide concept design work, Foreship developed the GA and outline specifications for the ships and supported CMA CGM in negotiations with the shipyard. Battery pack specifications “These ships will feature state-of-the-art dual-fuel engines, but what makes them especially significant from the perspective of their immediate environmental impact will be the large 13 MWh battery energy storage system on board,” said Joonatan Haukilehto, Head of New Technologies, Foreship. “The system will be sufficient to sustain hotel loads during calls in Corsica, while shore charging is only available in Marseille." “With over 40 shipboard battery projects under its belt, Foreship had offered detailed guidance on the battery pack specifications that will be required to meet the zero-emission in-port performance expected of the La Méridionale duo,” he said. Safe Return to Port regulations Finnish company has also been retained by CMA CGM to provide naval architecture services The Finnish company has also been retained by CMA CGM to provide naval architecture services through the design and building phases of the project, including consultancy on stability, energy efficiency, and compliance with the Safe Return to Port regulations. “Following on from our design projects with Finnlines for the Baltic Sea and with TT-Line for the Bass Strait, we are delighted to support CMA CGM’s initiative to build next-generation, sustainable ro-pax ferries for its western Mediterranean services,” added Haukilehto. Energy efficiency technologies "With the goal of achieving Net Zero carbon by 2050, CMA CGM continues to invest in implementing the most promising energy efficiency technologies to decarbonise its fleet,” emphasised Xavier Leclercq, Vice President in charge of CMA Ships.  “Thus, with the help of Foreship and thanks to its expertise in energy performance optimisation, the two future ships of La Méridionale will consume 50% less energy compared to the Piana, the reference ship of the fleet, while offering a significantly improved passenger experience."