"Necdet Ali Yildirim"

Oliver Design, a company that specializes in design and naval architecture based in the city of Getxo, has just signed a contract with the British Magna Carta Steamship Co Limited to remodeling a Turkish flag ferry and reconvert it into a luxury cruise, especially designed for tourism on the coast and lakes of Scotland. The Spanish company had already developed a similar project for the same client in 2000, which has enabled a unique tourist route, connecting the famous Lake Ness with the Hébrida islands through the historic Caledonian Canal.

The contract, signed in September under the turnkey mode, has involved the transfer of the ferry "Necdet Ali Yildirim" (which so far connected the Turkish port of Cesme to the Greek island of Quíos) to the Port of Vigo, where it arrived on October 22. Within a year, a two-deck passenger ferry covering a short journey of only seven kilometres will become a luxury boat capable of accommodating 50 passengers on its four decks, and complete a journey of up to one week.

The 42-meter-long ship for 9 manga and 398 Tons of Gross Registration, will change the Turkish flag for the British flag and will be renamed "Lord of the Highlands," and its new destination will require a radical transformation in its design, including an expansion of dimensions in length and manga, the construction of an additional deck and a complete interior reform to accommodate 50 passengers and 17 crew members.

The design of the future restaurant

Oliver Design has been responsible, together with Insenaval engineering, for the technical aspects of re- design, including the plans of the new structure and the configuration of the solutions in terms of stability and security. In addition to the necessary certifications according to the international maritime regulations required by the new configuration of the ship, for certification by Bureau Veritas and the British agency MCA. The Spanish firm will also provide the "Lord of the Highlands" with electrical facilities, pipes, HVAC (air conditioning), tanks, fire prevention measures and other services.

In order to carry out this complex task of reconversion of the ship, the Vizcána company will lead its planning and implementation as a project manager, and will have the collaboration of a select group of Galician companies specialized in specific works related to steel, aluminium, pipes, electricity or carpenters such as Gesdo, Protecnavi, Solem or Carpinautic, among others. Part of the work will be carried out by afloat on a dock of the port authority of Vigo and, for the work of the port of call, will be counted with the collaboration of the Armed Shipyards.

The adaptation of the ship to its new use implies great complexity. On the one hand, because of the need to provide it with spaces and services that it had not previously had (restaurant, bar and lounge area, cabins for passage and crew, kitchen, etc.). On the other hand, because the "Lord of the Highlands" will require additional stability that will be achieved by extending the sleeve in a meter and giving it a new steel bow that will increase the length by two meters and will have more height over the flotation line.