SF-Control has successfully completed the largest retrofit semi-turnkey installation in its history. No less than 14 LevelDatic 100S cabinets have been installed onboard the Celebrity Cruises' MV Century. A total of 125 tanks with remote level gauging, void spaces with remote water ingress detection and remote draft measuring are now continuously monitored on-line by the automation system and Onboard Napa loading computer.

The first contact from the shipowner was received early February 2006 requesting for a quotation for a complete LevelDatic 100S retrofit installation replacing fully the original system by another maker.

According to the shipowner, they have very good experience of LevelDatic 100S which is fitted on their four cruise ships built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique. There has not been a single claim or a spare sensor ever delivered to any of these ships.

A meeting with the shipowner was held end of February, where it was agreed that SF-Control should carry out a survey onboard to assess best possible solution for installation of cabinets by fire zone and for the piping.

An experienced service engineer from SF-Control, accompanied by two piping engineers from a repair shipyard, entered the MV Century in Aruba first week in March and carried out the survey while the ship was sailing to Fort Lauderdale. After this survey, a more detailed cost estimate was made for the turnkey installation of the LevelDatic 100S system.

The proposal was accepted by the shipowner. The shipowner supplied the outfitters, and SF-Control the supervision of piping work and installation of cabinets. The piping material was supplied by SF-Control and the cables by the shipowner.

Most of the piping work was carried out when the ship was sailing from the Caribbean to Palermo, where she was dry-docked for a month until end of May. This included also the piping work in most tanks. In Palermo, the cabinets were installed, and the piping was finished.

During dry-docking, the LevelDatic system was completed and tested by our commissioning ship automation engineer. All pipes were found tight, the communication with the automation system and Onboard Napa was working properly, and the system was accepted by the shipowner.

The total project time was less than three months from contract to ready commissioned and working.

The cooperation with the shipowner, the crew onboard and the outfitters worked excellently during the whole project, and contributed to the successful retrofit installation.

SF-Control has carried out retrofits for several other cruise vessels including the Carnival Cruise Lines' MV Holiday, Jubilee and Celebration, the Radissons' Radisson Diamond, several passenger ferries, and many car carriers, container ships, ro-ro vessels, tankers and LNG vessels.

For more information on retrofitting your ships with LevelDatic , please contact us SalesSFC@EmersonProcess.com.