Seatec 2/2026 | Page 36

result, however, the conditions must be exactly right.
“ First of all, the deck temperature must be at least plus ten degrees Celsius. The required humidity level varies somewhat depending on the material, but in practice it should remain below 70 percent.”
To ensure proper installation conditions, the work is carried out under tent structures using various heating systems.
NO SHORTCUTS IN SURFACE PREPARATION
Tapio Suikki emphasises that achieving a high-quality finish leaves absolutely no room for shortcuts in the preparation work. Any flaws in the substrate will eventually become visible in the finished surface.
“ First, we need to ensure that the steel deck is sufficiently rigid before we start applying the compounds. If there is any looseness or movement in the structure, the deck must be reinforced or otherwise secured to make sure it is rigid enough. If the deck starts moving too much in the Caribbean heat, it obviously won’ t be good for the coating.
“ Once the substrate is in proper condition, every stage of the preparation work
The brown gradient-coated flooring in the interior spaces creates the impression of
a hardwood floor.
must be completed without compromise. Poor sandblasting or grinding, for example
eighteen months later, the vessel should be ready,” Suikki estimates.
, may result in insufficient adhesion for
Completing
such
a
large-scale
the primer, which naturally means the surface material itself will not bond properly to the deck.”
project also requires a considerable workforce.
“ The number of workers varies
depending on the phase of the project.
AN EIGHTEEN-MONTH PROJECT
With 30,000 square metres of surfaces to coat, the project understandably could not be completed overnight.
Typically, it ranges between 30 and 50 people. At certain stages more workers are needed, while at others a smaller team is sufficient.”
“ Roughly speaking, groundwork on
the ship blocks begins about one and a half years before delivery. Then, about
THE NEXT CRUISE SHIPS ALREADY UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The Star of the Seas will by no means be
the last luxury cruise ship built for Royal
Caribbean International.
“ The third ship in the series, Legends
of the Seas, was delivered in early June.
Work has also started on the fourth vessel
, and its hull is currently being assembled
in the construction dock. We aim to
complete as much groundwork as possible
already at the block stage, so that the conditions
are optimal once we begin work on
the hull itself,” Suikki concludes.
Even after the fourth ship is completed
, work will continue at the Turku
shipyard, as the American cruise operator
has already ordered a fifth vessel and
signed an agreement that includes options
for a sixth and seventh ship. n
The stripe running along the edge of the gradient floor contains LED lighting embedded within the polyurethane compound, allowing the colour to change.
More Information: kerabit. fi / pinta( in Finnish)
36 seatec 2 / 2026