Hatecke customizes every drydock project to the needs of the client, Sergej Dell, technical director for Hatecke, said in the 2023 Drydock and Refurbishment Report by Cruise Industry News.

“Our goal is to fulfill their needs and get the projects completed within the given time frame. If our customers are perfectly satisfied, we are happy too,” said Dell.

Dell explained that the level of customization for each drydock project varies depending on a client’s needs. He added that Hatecke offers standard SOLAS products as well as a range of specialized products with numerous options.

“Our main project is to ensure that we have adequate OEM factory-trained technicians to ensure the quality of our services. We invested heavily to upskill our co-workers which we believe sets us apart from other companies in this market.”

Dell also said that many cruise lines were proactive during the pandemic and used the opportunity to carry out drydock work since they weren’t able to sail with passengers.

“This of course presents new challenges and allows us to come up with solutions to make sure that all inspections and services are completed prior to their due dates.

Dell said that trends include investing heavily in preventative maintenance and reducing ongoing maintenance costs.

“These trends are more related to the management philosophy of each company which existed prior to COVID.”

Dell said that there isn’t a typical timeline for a drydock project since each project depends on customer demands as well as location.

“The key factors in a drydock are to be well prepared and stay on the work.

“We invest a lot into our staff. We have apprenticeship programs, OEM technician training and also focus on niche specialized training. The combination of these efforts enables us to have a world-class staff able to coordinate, manage, and execute whichever project comes our way,” Dell said.