Only 7 days! Italian shipping companies join forces to transform offshore makeshift hospitals

The 'Sea Cabin Hospital' was delivered by GNV to the Liguria region in Genoa

In less than a week, Mediterranean Shipping Group collaborated with the Italian Classification Society (RINA) to transform a luxury passenger roll on/roll off ferry into an offshore "makeshift hospital". At a tense moment when the COVID-19 continues to spread in Italy, this "waterborne hospital" with up to 400 beds is expected to help Italy alleviate the urgent need for hospital beds.

On March 19, Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV), a sister brand of Mediterranean cruise ships and a ferry brand belonging to the Mediterranean Shipping Group, officially delivered a luxury ro ro ferry to Liguria, Italy, which was transformed into a "marine shelter hospital" in Genoa, Italy, to support the medical system in the region to fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.

Since the Liguria region entered a state of emergency two weeks ago, Mediterranean Shipping Group has taken the initiative to work closely with the Italian Classification Society (RINA) and the health system and civil protection departments in the region to create a solution that can be implemented in a short period of time and replicated in other regions, which can quickly increase hospital beds in Liguria.

To quickly achieve this goal, GNV has partnered with some partners to jointly invest in the renovation of its luxury passenger ferry "Splendid". Giovanni Totti, the President of Liguria Region, stated that starting from March 23rd, the ferry "Splendid" will be ready to accommodate patients, and the first batch of 25 patients will board on the same day.

The modification work of the "Splendid" began on March 15th and set a record in less than a week. The ship can initially provide 25 beds, and can quickly continue to renovate the cabin to increase the total number of beds to 400. All cabins on board are equipped with TV, Internet and independent toilets, and equipped with completely independent external circulation ventilation system, suitable for isolation. In addition to the cabin, there are dedicated areas for medical staff and crew on board, which can meet relevant standards and balance comfort and convenience. The deck is also equipped with a helicopter landing pad.

It is reported that the "Splendid" is one of the longest passenger ferries in the GNV fleet, with a total length of 214 meters and a width of 27 meters. It was put into operation in 1994 and has 485 cabins, with a maximum capacity of 2200 passengers and 178 crew members. The Italian Classification Society believes that this type of passenger roll on/roll off ferry is suitable for conversion into a hospital ship, as such ships not only have passenger cabins, but also car decks capable of accommodating containers or more cabins.

Giovanni Totti pointed out, "We are the first region in Italy to identify and equip a water hospital structure that is suitable for both patients who need a period of recovery after being 'protected' from the hospital and those who must undergo quarantine in complete isolation

Mediterranean Group symbolically charged 1 euro and handed over the ferry to the Liguria region for use until the local state of emergency was lifted. Protezione Civil, the Italian public agency responsible for handling the emergency of novel coronavirus, will pay the charter fee and modification project cost of the "Splendid". In addition, the Italian Classification Society and many other suppliers have provided services and equipment for the ship free of charge.

It is understood that GNV is a leading ferry brand in the Mediterranean region, operating a fleet of 12 passenger ferries, including several of Europe's largest passenger ferries. This is not the first time GNV has donated its ships to assist in dealing with humanitarian crises. As early as 2017, GNV and its partners assisted in the rescue efforts after Hurricane Maria in the Caribbean region. GNV set up an outpatient department on the car deck of a ship, equipped with multiple rooms, air conditioning, and an independent fire protection system.

Previously, Mediterranean Cruise has stated that if necessary, it will provide its luxury cruise ship "MSC Opera" for the same purpose. This cruise ship is currently also anchored in Genoa. The MSC Opera cruise ship is approximately 275 meters long and has 1071 cabins, capable of accommodating 2150 passengers and 728 crew members. The ship was completed in 2004 and renovated in 2015 with the addition of more cabins with balconies, with a maximum passenger capacity of 2679 people.

Apart from Genoa, in other port cities in central and southern Italy, Mediterranean cruise ships are also considering providing two additional cruise ships or ferries to be converted into hospital ships. In addition, other Italian ferry companies including Moby, Grimaldi, and Adria Ferries have also expressed their willingness to provide their ferries for the same purpose.