Cruise Talk: Use of Teak Decking

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Topic: Use of Teak Decking

Linerrich
First Class Passenger
Member # 4864

posted 11-12-2007 05:51 PM

The subject of teak decking was brought up in another thread, and I thought it might deserve its own thread.

Long used on ships, in modern times it is seen as a mark of quality (as opposed to Astroturf or outdoor carpet.) Currently, however, the use of teak is seen as environmentally unfriendly, since the teak forests are rapidly vanishing.

My thought is: will there be any technical issues regarding the use of teak decking after SOLAS 2010? Haven't seen any mention of this, so I'm guessing that it will be allowable. Thoughts or comments?

Rich

Posts: 4210 | From: Miami, FL | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 11-12-2007 06:15 PM

I don't think there are any SOLAS requirements or fire testing criteria for external deck areas? This was brought to light with the Star Princess balcony fire and the use of even flammable dividers. I think the balconies now have some extra rules, but not sure they extend to the other open decks?

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

cruiseshipluver
First Class Passenger
Member # 5104

posted 11-12-2007 06:37 PM

Well many of the cruiselines are now adopting the use of boldit ( I think that is what it is called)materials as a synthetic alternative to teak. As was said, Teak is becoming unenvironmentally friendly. It was only a matter of time untill alternatives had to be found. The area of exterior surfaces that need to be covered is extensive and you would not even want to know how many trees are sacrificed!
cruiseshipluver

Posts: 1797 | From: Barbados--cruiseship capital of the Southern Caribbean | Registered: Oct 2004 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 11-12-2007 06:59 PM

So it is more 'environmentally friendly' to continue to deplete the world's supply of fossil fuels than to grow more trees, use the wood and replant?

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 11-12-2007 07:15 PM

quote:
Originally posted by PamM:
So it is more 'environmentally friendly' to continue to deplete the world's supply of fossil fuels than to grow more trees, use the wood and replant?
Pam

Teak farms are the answer as it is w/many farm grown lumber today.

Posts: 7654 | From: Hollywood Hills/L.A. | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 11-12-2007 07:19 PM

Yes, teak can come from young trees grown in sustainable plantations and not just old trees which cannot be re-grown quickly.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 11-12-2007 07:22 PM

I wonder which other lumbers might be suitable for the deck of a ship? I heard about heat treatment of wood - see here or here. Could this work? Maybe not as good as teak but still better than artificial turf. (yuk)

Beside that - what other material could one use? Stone or tiles are probably not very suitable (too heavy, they might crack, get too hot in the sun etc.) Is there a way to make a nicer carpet for the outside than these pathetic 'grass carpets'?

To my knowledge the SOLAS amendments following the Star Princess fire only concerns the balconies - but I am not sure.

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 11-12-2007 07:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
Yes, teak can come from young trees grown in sustainable plantations and not just old trees which cannot be re-grown quickly.

That's my thinking [as in my post in the other thread too]. I fail to see how this Bolideck stuff can claim to be more 'environmentally friendly' than teak decking grown in such a way. But then I am a layman in such matters.

Yes tiles and so on are slippery and far too heavy. There is another form of 'plastic' planking I have seen too, but still the real stuff is for the best maybe.

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

mike sa
First Class Passenger
Member # 5957

posted 11-13-2007 02:21 AM

As long as teak is sourced from sustainable sources it is by far the most environmentally friendly material, it will last or even outlast the life span of the ship if cared for properly and can/ should be recycled once the ship is scrapped.

Posts: 2272 | From: Durban, South Africa | Registered: Sep 2005 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 11-13-2007 03:38 AM

Wikipedia explains all about Teak - Here.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

cruisemole
First Class Passenger
Member # 2459

posted 11-13-2007 05:48 AM

The "Teak" decks arent necessarily teak.
Other hardwoods, eg Iroko, are used as well.

Anyway, the fire risk is zero.

Posts: 343 | From: dear ol'blighty | Registered: Sep 2001 | IP: Logged

timb
First Class Passenger
Member # 5901

posted 11-13-2007 12:24 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Ernst:
I wonder which other lumbers might be suitable for the deck of a ship? .

I once worked on a wooden hulled ship that had Cypress decks. I have no idea the suitability of this or not just a data point

Posts: 437 | From: S FL | Registered: Sep 2005 | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 11-13-2007 05:50 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mike sa:
As long as teak is sourced from sustainable sources it is by far the most environmentally friendly material, it will last or even outlast the life span of the ship if cared for properly and can/ should be recycled once the ship is scrapped.

Very true. Look at the way the ships are completely recycled that have been scrapped recently. Everything from windows, bath fixtures to cabin furniture finds new ashore.

Posts: 7654 | From: Hollywood Hills/L.A. | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 11-13-2007 06:15 PM

Malcolm's link above even mentions that in India teak is widely used, so I expect every last splinter is collected from the passenger ships being recycled [tankers etc have little if any, all metal]. Just what could they do with Bolideck? Nothing.

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

Maasdam
First Class Passenger
Member # 3858

posted 11-19-2007 07:07 PM

I have ask the Eurodam News Blog. Where there teak came from and if there teak was environment friendly.

They answered with a whole new article on the Blog, look here.

Greetings Ben.

Posts: 4695 | From: Rotterdam home of the tss. Rotterdam. | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

Funnel
First Class Passenger
Member # 11251

posted 11-20-2007 03:45 PM

On the ferry Silja Symphony (Sweden-Finland) they used a soft outdoor carpet for a couple of months, then they exchanged it to the plastic floor you can see on the pictures below.

I find it quite good to walk on even if it is wet (not slippery at all), it stands the weather rather good (even the winter with a lot of snow up here in the north of Europe ) but it is not looking "premium" at all.

Plastic deck (Bergo) on Silja Symphony.

Detail of plastic deck.

/Erik

Posts: 18 | From: Sweden | Registered: Sep 2007 | IP: Logged

Frosty 4
First Class Passenger
Member # 5826

posted 11-21-2007 09:47 AM

The Scandinavian countries use a lot of teak for furniture. We have a lot of this type wood in our house. It has a nice warm feel about it. I would imagine that tree farms could be planted as per the pine trees used for Xmas trees .
Even Hawaii plants a lot of Macadamia nut trees now in areas that were once sugar cane and pineapple fields and these products are now grown in Central America.
Frosty 4

Posts: 2531 | From: Illinois | Registered: Jul 2005 | IP: Logged

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