Weather Protection for Cruise Ship Pool Refurbishment | France

A tight port window for cruise ship refurbishment

In October 2019, MV Britannia was docked at a shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France for a scheduled refurbishment of its outdoor pool areas. Shield, specialist technical contractors established in 1979, were appointed to carry out the works within a tightly defined programme window before the vessel returned to service.

Weather protection was essential. Services Group had initially considered erecting scaffolding and shrink wrapping the pool areas, but this would have taken many days to set up and dismantle, making it unsuitable for the available timeframe.

Four connected modules creating a controlled work area

Njordair supplied four 16′ x 20′ (5m x 6m) Constant Air modules. Joined together, these created a dry, temperature-controlled working area 64′ long x 16′ wide over the pool area. Each module inflates in just 46 seconds and was slid directly into position over the pools. The system was custom built and colour-matched to Shield’s corporate identity.

Multiple modules were connected to form a continuous enclosure, providing both weather protection and temperature control. The system was rapidly deployed and positioned over the work area, allowing the contractor to begin works immediately.

The modular design also enabled flexibility, with the enclosure easily repositioned as required during the project. Compared to traditional temporary structures, the system provided a faster, more adaptable solution with significantly reduced installation time.

Weather-protected works completed within the port window

The Njordair system enabled the contractor to complete the refurbishment works within the limited port window, without delays caused by weather or installation constraints.

Rapid deployment, combined with the ability to create a controlled working environment, ensured the project remained on programme. In addition, the reusable nature of the system provided long-term value beyond the initial project.

For time-critical maintenance and refurbishment works, Njordair systems offer a practical and efficient alternative to traditional temporary structures.