Cascade General "Well Positioned" for Cruise Ships

When Princess Cruise Lines recently found the Sky Princess lacking in maneuverability for the small harbors on its new Asian itinerary, it carefully considered the options and contracted with Cascade General, operator of the Portland Shipyard, for installation of a stern thruster. Since 1987, Cascade General has compiled a record of some 30 cruise ship drydockings for the major players on the Alaska run - Princess, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, American Hawaii and Regency. Sited on the Columbia River in the northwestern US, Cascade General operates a 982-foot (299 m) dry dock, the largest floating dry dock in the Americas.

After only 19 days of a scheduled 21-day visit, the 2.5-meter diameter, 1500 Kw thruster unit was fitted, tested and the Sky Princess ready for sea. For Executive Vice President and cruise ship specialist Suren Menon, that's the kind of performance which gives Cascade General an edge when dealing with the particular needs of cruise ship maintenance in the Pacific Northwest.

"Because all the lines are re-positioning between the Caribbean and Alaska at approximately the same time, this is a very busy period for us. Bi-annual inspection work is arranged a year in advance. We can quickly handle two or three ships in succession." When it comes to emergencies like the Star Princess, which arrived in 1995 from Alaska with a 450-foot (198 m) gash from midship right through the propeller, Menon needed more time on the large dry dock, one of three in the yard.

As with her sister ship, 21 days was all the time allocated - in this case to replace some 220 tons of steel in the ship's bottom. This repair was complicated by the potential for oil pollution from the ship's leaking tanks. With some aggressive, "all hands" tactics, the oil was contained and the re-construction completed on time.

The tight management structure at Cascade General gives Menon hands-on control of these projects from start to finish. With extensive experience in the industry, including time as a Chief Engineer, three years in ship design and 15 years as an estimator/project superintendent in the ship repair industry, he begins by inspecting the ship during the lay day between cruises and preparing a bid. He also understands typical shipyard work is likely to be matched with high-fashion demands involving furnishings and re-styling of the passenger areas.

"Within hours, the public areas are often unrecognizable," he admits. "It's quite miraculous to see how our crews can transform a space to whatever ambiance the customer wants! But we also think timely billing is as important as timely departure. We strive to deliver our paperwork at the same time as the ship," he added.

This versatility was well tested by the latest conversion work on the veteran (built in 1952), steam-powered Independence, the only US-flagged cruise ship in service. It was extensively upgraded at Cascade General in May/June 1997. Two unused cargo holds were converted to accommodations when Cascade lowered 16 cabin modules into #2 and #6 holds. With the addition of these 65 beds and a complete SOLAS (Safety Of Life At Sea) overhaul, the Independence continues to keep the Stars and Stripes flying on the inter-island run in Hawaii.

Menon is preparing for the first visit by the 935-foot (285 m) Sun Princess, a newbuild which represents the "state-of-the-art" in cruise ship design. "With recent European launchings, we look forward to increased challenges and opportunities in the cruise business. It's my opinion with these designs, the cruise industry is broadening its appeal by shaping a sophisticated package with a variety of attractions, including Broadway-style shows, Las Vegas-style casinos, and fabulous scenery."

Holland America Line is the top customer at Cascade General, having amassed 12 drydockings to date. Holland America has also explored the possibilities of carrying passengers on its "positioning" trips. Portland has much to offer the tourist - from the magnificent Columbia Gorge to the east, the wine country to the south and the city's revitalized downtown with its pedestrian malls and free, public transportation.

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Cascade General operates Portland Shipyard, the largest and most complete ship repair and industrial facility on the West Coast of the United States. We provide full-service repairs and conversions for tankers, cruise ships, bulk carriers, container ships, government vessels, tugs, barges and workboats. Cascade General's Portland facility includes a 60-acre (24.2 ha) yard, 550,000 square feet (51,096 square meters) of craft shops, more than 7,600 ft. (2,326 meters) of full-service repair berths, and two floating dry docks.