When Chinese operator Macao Dragon Ferries needed flooring to meet the luxury requirements of its new high-speed ferries between Hong Kong and Macau, it went searching for the best products.
With this in mind, and on the recommendation of its refurbishment contractor Marinteknik Shipbuilders of Singapore, Macao Dragon specified Altro’s specialist flooring product for the maritime sector, Altro Transflor Gallium™ – the only polyacrylate safety flooring developed specifically for maritime use.
The new-build ferries needed a product that could cope with high levels of foot traffic and provide a safe, slip-resistant surface even when wet. The result was a large order of Altro Transflor Gallium being specified across all passenger areas – where it was vital the highest standards of hygiene and safety had to be maintained. The 2,300m² of flooring across two ferries meets strict IMO regulations and is also extremely durable and easy to maintain – an important factor for the Hong Kong to Macau route. In addition, the lightweight nature of Gallium, at only 2.7kg per m², means it helps with fuel savings costs – an important consideration in fast ferries.
Altro Transflor Gallium was specified in the three different shades – ‘Bone’, ‘Skyline’ and ‘Fog’. Macao Dragon Ferries is planning the new high-speed ferry service between Hong Kong and Macau using 1,152-seat catamarans. The fast ferry traffic between Hong Kong and Macau has increased significantly in the last few years with new operators starting services due to the liberalisation of Macau’s gaming industry and ease of travel restrictions from mainland China. During the high season these ferries can be transporting upward of 20,000 people per week.
Simon Andrews, maritime sales manager at Altro, comments, “Working on a new project with Macao Dragon Ferries was extremely rewarding for the team at Altro. We pride ourselves in being the pioneers of safety flooring and this is particularly important in the maritime sector for new projects such as this.
The Hong Kong to Macau route is extremely popular and busy, so it was important that the flooring area was durable, and importantly, was easy to maintain for the crew during the season when it sails. In this instance, Gallium was used in an area where safety and hygiene were both important. The product is designed to perform to the highest standard across all areas.
Altro Transflor Gallium is the only sheet safety flooring that complies with both parts 2 and 5 of the IMO Fire Test Procedure Code (IMO FTP) and all the relevant MED regulations, and can demonstrate consistency of results over at least three different test houses. In 2008, it won the equipment category at the ‘Safety at Sea International’ awards.