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Boudicca to undergo major refit
July 13, 2005

The 839-passenger Boudicca, a sister ship to Black Watch currently sailing as Grand Latino, joins the Fred Olsen fleet in October. This is the first Fred Olsen ship to cruise under this moniker (named after the Queen of the Iceni), and endorses the commitment of the company to support the British market.

Nigel Lingard, marketing director of Fred Olsen spoke exclusively to Seatrade Insider yesterday in London following the launch of the line’s 2006/07 cruise brochure (see separate story) about plans for the new acquisition built in 1973.

‘Following the handover, the ship will enter wet dock in southern Europe for stripping out before proceeding to a yet unnamed dry dock in northern Europe in December where the majority of the refit and refurbisment will take place,’ explained Lingard.

‘In a lengthy dry dock Boudicca will have a complete new power system installed including new MAN B&W main engines, new gearboxes and propellers, in fact, the same power train recently installed on sister Black Watch undertaken at Blohm+Voss in June (Watch also had two new auxiliary engines fitted which are not required on Boudicca),’ Lingard revealed. An overhaul of the vacuum toilet system and plumbing throughout the entire ship will also be carried out thus reducing the amount of grey water carried onboard and enabling the vessel to stay longer in port particularly in environmentally sensitive areas.

‘On the hotel side, 50 cabins on Deck 8 will be completely stripped out and refitted with 40 balconied suites, whilst all public rooms will be refurbished and refreshed throughout. London-based interior designer SPACE have completed all the designs and these are now at tender stage,’ he added.

Fred Olsen’s country house atmosphere onboard, for which the company is well known, will be adhered to on Boudicca too relates Lingard. Family owners, the Olsens, are keen to nuture this too. Cruise company chairman Fred Olsen, a fifth generation member of the Norwegian family, and sisters Onetta and Mariette are involved in the day to day running of the shipping business. Fred Olsen Senior, now in his mid 70s, although retired has a passion for art and has been actively buying up English country-style paintings recently to place onboard Boudicca, disclosed Lingard.

Boudicca emerges in new livery next February and will be officially named in a gala dinner ceremony in Dover, scheduled for February 25.

Seatrade Insider

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An overhaul of the vacuum toilet system [/QB]

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Black Watch has proper toilets. Has Grand latino had hers replaced at some point?

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Details of Boudicca refit
November 17, 2005

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has outlined details of the major works to be undertaken on board its newest ship - Boudicca - which comes into service in February.

The ship is currently alongside the dock in Tenerife where initial work is being carried out as follows:- Deck 8 : all cabins completely gutted fore and aft; new balcony doors to be fitted giving all cabins on this deck balconies; Deck 7 : disco and casino being gutted in preparation for new library, card room and Lido bar; Deck 6 : being prepared for creation of two new main restaurants, Iceni Room and Secret Garden café; Chariots Bar, lounge and Neptune Lounge; Deck 6 pool area : being stripped down to bare metal for significant new steel installation to support two Jacuzzis and one Swimex. Entire area being refurbished including teak decking. Most of the pool fitting work is planned to be completed in Tenerife.

On the technical side piping systems within the engine room spaces are being altered in advance of the installation of a vacuum toilet system with significant preparatory work already completed.

The interior of the ship is being stripped out ready and engine room being prepared for renewal of old engines and installation of four new MAN B&W 7L 32/40 engines to be completed in Hamburg at Blohm+Voss yard where she is expected to arrive December 6. Four new Aalborg exhaust boilers, four new propeller blades from Rolls Royce and a new power management system for main switchboard for all auxiliary engines will also be added.

On completion of all works, the ship will sail to Dover for her inaugural cruise to the Canary Islands departing February 25.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has chosen Seatrade to produce a high quality supplement to celebrate the arrival of Boudicca. It will be published in February and distributed at Boudicca's inaugural events plus with the March issue of Seatrade Cruise Review magazine...

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Originally posted by bulbousbow:
installation of a vacuum toilet system with significant preparatory work already completed.

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So she is having them installed rather than already being in existence. Did Black Watch have similar during her refit? Or does she retain the proper system?

She is having a lot of work done, should be lovely when ready How does one get a Seatrade Cruise Review magazine? I'd love one of the supplements, and have no chance of an invite to an 'inaugural event'

Let's hope the shake, rattle and more rattle that affects Black Watch is circumvented somehow for Boudicca !

I can't wait for February . . .

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PamM wrote:
How does one get a Seatrade Cruise Review magazine? I'd love one of the supplements, and have no chance of an invite to an 'inaugural event'

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For the magazine try: sales@seatrade-global.com

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Boudicca en-route for B+V
December 1, 2005

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' latest acquisition Boudicca has left Tenerife where the first stage of her major refurbishment was undertaken and is now en-route for Blohm+Voss shipyard in Germany where she should arrive next week.

'Primarily decks 8 and 7 have been completely stripped out in preparation for all new configuration of cabins and suites,' Nigel Lingard, the line's marketing director tells Seatrade Insider, whilst deck 6 has been gutted in preparation for creation of two new main restaurants, bars and lounges.

Lingard says the company took advantage of the warm weather in Tenerife to complete most of the refurbishment planned for the outer deck areas including the installation of two Jacuzzis and one Swimex and replacing some of the teak decking.

Boudicca has been formally named, classed with DNV and re-flagged to Bahamas Registry.

Most of the mechanical work, including the removal of four existing main engines and installation of new 4-stroke diesel MAN B&W engines, plus reduction gear, four new Aalborg exhaust boilers and new propeller blades from Rolls Royce, is scheduled to be finished by the end of the year reports Lingard. Boudicca will then leave the drydock and the remainder of the refit will be completed afloat.

The ship is scheduled to sail to Dover for her inaugural cruise to the Canary Islands departing February 25.

Seatrade Insider

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Boudicca [L] has 2 curved decks, BW [R] is straight across.
Both had deep edging. Boudicca still did in Cambodge's pic last week, but it seem from that cam grab, they've either reduced the height in preparation for making the deck the same as Black Watch [the deck is there, just the thick white has gone] or it's a very bad shot in poor light.

What do you think?

[ 12-03-2005: Message edited by: Ernst ]

[ 12-03-2005: Message edited by: Ernst ]

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Originally posted by Lux:
Thanks for the post Pam. Excellent sluething.
Quite a dossier being built up - before any up to date news from Fred !
Lux

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and here together with her sister ALBATROS:

Both pictures found at
www.ship-photo.de

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
Nice images, thanks for sharing.

What is the ship in front in image 2?

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A so-called 'tug'.