Villa Vie Residences, which has had its ship delayed by four-months following extensive refurbishment, maintenance, and inspection at Harland & Wolff, is preparing to finally depart Belfast Harbour.
The former Fred Olsen Lines cruise ship Braemar was converted into a residential cruise ship, Villa Vie Odyssey, which has passed sea trials following repairs to rudders and gearbox. This could see the 1993 built ship with 8 decks accommodating 650 residents leave as soon as tomorrow, (25 Sept), according to UK media.
Odyssey had begun a refit period at Harland & Wolff’s Queen’s Island shipyard, to refurbish its interior and renew classification in March, with the aim of completing the work and departing in May with its inaugural world cruise. The first taking some three and a half years. Due to the delays of the 195m ship, this was originally to have taken place across the Irish Sea from Southampton.
That timeline, however, has since slipped, as Villa Vie Residences managing director Mike Petterson told CNN that the vessel's class society appeared to take a stricter line when compared with the previous operator, the UK-based operator Fred. Olsen - and class required a larger scope of work than his team had expected.
Mr. Patterson said, "There is an evident double standard between what’s acceptable for us now and what was acceptable in 2017 and 2019 [at the last class survey].Fred. Olsen has been around a long time – it’s a relatively low risk company. I expected continuity, but I got zero credit."
Fred. Olsen told CNN that the cruise ship was laid up during the pandemic, and said that the vessel passed an independent survey before the sale to Villa Vie. The Maritime Executive has more on the ship's pending departure.
