Barcelona, 19th March 2009 – ADELTE, the world leading designer and manufacturer of sophisticated Passenger Boarding Bridges (PBBs) for cruise and ferry terminals has recently been awarded a contract by the City of Mobile, Alabama (USA) to design, build and install a HYDRA Passenger Boarding Bridge for its Alabama Cruise Terminal. Agreed delivery of the PBB is in October 2009.
The Alabama Cruise Terminal in Mobile is in operation since 2004 and is currently homeport to the Carnival Holiday, a cruise ship with a capacity to facilitate an average of 1600 passengers on board. To service an increasing amount of cruise guests departing from Mobile, Carnival Cruise Lines will replace the Carnival Holiday in November 2009 for the Carnival Fantasy, a 2052-passenger, 900-foot cruise ship.
The current passenger access system at the Alabama Cruise Terminal, which cannot move longitudinally along the wharf, needs to be replaced by a completely moveable Passenger Boarding Bridge in order to serve the larger cruise vessel. One of the major challenges in the design parameters for this HYDRA PBB is the ability to connect its integrated hydraulic ramp with various the entrances along the oval shaped terminal building.
This HYDRA Passenger Boarding Bridge, currently in design phase, will have the capability to move along the whole quay and will be able to connect with cruise ship entry doors at various levels. The bridge will consist of glass mounted tunnel sections and the cabin of the PBB will be equipped with a uniquely integrated hydraulic, telescopic, docking ramp that, when attached to the side of a cruise ship automatically follows the vessel’s movements and will immediately undock in the event of an emergency. The clearance under the bridge will allow for continuous truck, equipment and supplies traffic on the quay. This PBB will be Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant, facilitating ease of access and regress for all passengers including persons with reduced mobility, and compliant with all up-to-date international safety and security standards.
