Vancouver, BC, Canada, July 2014 – Bridgemans of Vancouver, BC is pleased to announce that it has acquired Silja Europa, a 650-foot former Baltic Sea cruise ferry from Estonian-based ferry operator, Tallink plans to convert the 14-deck ship into a luxurious full-service Floatel accommodations vessel that can be quickly deployed to accommodate industrial workforces in any region of the world.
Refit and conversion will take place at dry dock facilities in Estonia and Finland. Once completed, the ship will feature 1400 single-guest rooms with private ensuite washrooms, a 550-seat dining room, a lunch room, four lounges, meeting rooms, an internet lounge, first aid room, exercise facilities, theatre, laundry room and accommodations for 220 crew members.
“This is an extremely significant acquisition in that the vessel is the largest in class and will bring our total number of rooms in service up to 2,200 with another 500-plus in development,” says Brian Grange, President of Bridgemans. “Once the refit is complete this vessel can be positioned anywhere in the world and offer accommodations and services never before seen in a work camp environment.”
Europa is the second ship that Bridgemans has acquired from Tallink. Last December the company acquired the 550-foot Silja Festival, which subsequently underwent a $3-million conversion into a 700-room Floatel that features the amenities, services and atmosphere of a modern cruise ship.
The ship features 600 single-guest rooms with private ensuites, a 378-seat dining room, a lunch room, three lounges, meeting rooms, dry room, first aid room, exercise facilities, theatre, laundry and accommodations for 100 crew members. It is currently in service accommodating 450 workers in Kitimat, BC who are completing the modernization of a large Rio Tinto Alcan aluminum smelter.
Bridgemans has also recently acquired Spirit of the Nation, a 300-foot former BC ferry, and a 165-foot barge upon which it is constructing a 400-person floatel pre-assembled modular components.
Once the refit of the second former Tallink vessel is complete, it will be re-commissioned as Bridgemans Europa. Final conversion and restoration work is scheduled to be completed by late September.