In an interview with HANSA, Bernard Meyer delivers insight into challenges of building »Sonne« and the pressure in terms of consolidation in the industry. With regard to prospect demand for research vessels from abroad he is rather pessimistic
»Sonne« is a floating laboratory and thus highly complex. What were the biggest technical challenges in the construction process[ds_preview] ?
Bernard Meyer: The new ship is far more than a floating laboratory. On board many disciplines such as biology, chemistry, geology and e. g. climate research are covered by a very broad spectrum of research. But this naturally includes the appropriate hardware on board like the hangar, the entire outboard handling, sound and vibration characteristics and of course the labs with their special facilities and requirements.
The biggest technical challenge was to the complexity of the vessel in contrast to limited space and the special features needed for high technical and environmental requirements such as an SCR catalytic converter.
What do you think is the biggest innovation on board?
Meyer: This cannot be seen in any single aspect. It is rather the variety of innovative systems, all of which had to be coordinated. But certainly also the ship design with its specific hull shape is to be mentioned. This hull design aims at a minimum entrainment of bubbles. The implementation of the hub compensation in the winch room is another important feature to be mentioned.
Will such vessels be built in Germany also, or will this shipbuilding area be relocated to Asia?
Meyer: This is very difficult to predict. In fact high technical standards pose a corresponding challenge, of course. In addition, the coordination work for a project with almost six clients (German federal institutions and five coastal countries) is much higher. Whether the shipbuilders in Southeast Asia usually specialized in standard shipbuilding are actually better, I do not know.
Do you expect more newbuilding orders for your group of shipyards in the course of the modernization of the German research fleet?
Meyer: There are at least considerations to further renew the fleet of German research vessels. We have not only virtually perfumed »Sonne« with our technical know-how, but also developed a prototype we actively present in the offshore market. This type of ship can be ideally used as offshore accomodation vessel, too.
What are potential future markets for clients of research vessels? Are research ship orders from Finland an option after participation in Turku?
Meyer: The shipbuilding industry has always been a global industry. However, it is currently hard to predict whether other countries will have a demand for research vessels. I’m rather pessimistic in this regard. As for ice-breaking ships designed for research in the Arctic, I see only a limited market. In Finland, a company in its own right specialized in »arctic ships« has emerged from the old STX association.
Do you expect further consolidation in Europe’s shipyard industry with plant closures, mergers or acquisitions?
Meyer: Further mergers and acquisitions are of course possible. For example, Fincantieri and STX France are already discussing further cooperation for a while. The consolidation of our industry in Europe is already going on for more than 25 years. In my opinion, such restructuring and consolidation are necessary and may contribute to the survival of the industry. The best example is the collaboration Turku/Rostock-Warnemünde/Papenburg.
Would you also think about expansion to non-European countries?
Meyer: Right now, we give no consideration to this.
Michael Meyer
