Snelling Business Systems has this month been awarded the contract to supply and install the AV requirements on two Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ships.
Fred. Olsen was founded by three Olsen brothers in 1848 in Norway as an international shipping company, and five generations later, in addition to its interests in renewable energy, aviation, ships' crewing, and offshore industries, the company has defined and refined the cruise experience. Specialising in smaller ships, it has a fleet of four cruise vessels which carry between 804 and 1,350 passengers, and offer long haul and mini cruises worldwide to destinations including the Amazon, Iceland, the Caribbean, and the USA.
With elegance and style being the hallmarks for the company, Fred. Olsen has an ongoing commitment to ensuring its ships offer passengers the ultimate in comfort and safety, including the latest in state-of-the-art and cutting-edge technology. As part of this commitment, it has appointed Snelling Business Systems to undertake the task of updating the ships' broadcasting facilities and digital display capabilities.
The project, which incorporates two of the vessels in the fleet - Boudicca and Black Watch - will require Snelling Business Systems to install a fully integrated audio visual system feeding multiple screens including every passenger cabin, as well as larger screens in public areas on each passenger deck. The system will incorporate all aspects of the cruise experience, offering details of onboard activities and safety information, and information on upcoming ports of call and itineraries.
Boudicca, requiring 450 screens and serving an audience of 900 passengers and crew; and Black Watch, with 425 screens for an audience of up to 868 people, will both be fitted with the Onelan systems with emergency broadcast integration. The systems will be managed from the Fred. Olsen UK headquarters in Ipswich, Suffolk, from where the information will be transmitted to the individual ships via the internet and satellite.
Onelan Systems was established in 1988 and is based in its head office in the south Oxfordshire countryside. Its systems have won multiple awards, including the 'Queen's Award for Enterprise 2010 for Innovation', and 'Digital Signage Manufacturer of the Year 2008' at the prestigious AV Awards. It has also been a winner at the Deloitte Technology Awards for the past three years.
Toby Wise, Managing Director, Snelling Business Systems, said:
"We are delighted to be working with Fred. Olsen on this prestigious contract. Our engineers are used to working in beautiful and unusual surroundings, as diverse as the Formula One pits and Norwich Cathedral, so a cruise ship will be another interesting and challenging experience. We are confident that the system we have recommended will give Fred. Olsen the opportunity to deliver a truly outstanding audio visual communication service to its passengers."
Ian Watson, Cruise Systems Manager for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: "This new information package, which has been designed for us by Snelling Business Systems, is a great advance on our current system, and will add greatly to our passengers' on board experience. It will provide a complete guide to everything they need to know about life on board, from safety procedures through to upcoming ports of call. It is an all-encompassing guide to life on board."
Snelling Business Systems, which boasts 'Audio Visual excellence and operational simplicity', is part of the Snellings Group, which was established in 1954 at Blofield Heath where it is still based today. It has been designing and installing AV systems for over 10 years, and achieved Highly Commended at the 2009 National AV Awards.