Martin Professional dynamic lighting and smoke solutions adorn the world's largest cruise liner, Oasis of the Seas, reports David Davies. Launched with no little fanfare last year, Oasis of the Seas incorporates cutting-edge accommodation, catering and retail facilities, while the bar has also been set high for the extensive entertainment facilities.
The need to ensure reliability in the ocean environment's demanding conditions led Christopher Vlassopulos - who is head of entertainment technology for Oasis of the Seas owner Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises - to opt for vast quantities of Martin Professional equipment.
Principal lighting designer Michael Riotto commented: "It is imperative to specify equipment which can withstand the harsh electrical environments found onboard marine vessels. Equipment must be simple to operate and maintain while not compromising the quality or ambience of a space. We have specified Martin equipment on several marine projects and we find the equipment to hold up well while being an affordable solution for the client. In addition, our client, Christopher Vlassopulos of Royal Caribbean, has always had a great relationship with Martin and choosing Martin was a collective win-win for everyone involved."
Central meeting place the Royal Promenade has been equipped with 22 MAC 250 Entour profiles and six Jem K1 hazers, while the Opal Theater's extensive Martin Pro spec includes 32 MAC 700 Wash fixtures, six MAC 700 profiles and 24 MAC575 Krypton moving heads, among many other units.
The multi-purpose Studio B and ice rink - which can be transformed into a TV studio or deployed for exhibits, fashion shows and concerts - has been installed with MAC moving heads, LED battens and Jem smoke effects. Meanwhile, Martin Mania fixtures have been installed in all three of the vessel's nightclubs: Blaze, Boleros and On-Air.
AquaTheater, the Jazz on 4 Club, the Crew Bar, the Solarium and the Observation Lounge are among the other areas to feature Martin Pro equipment.
Morten Gjøtz, Martin Professional's business area director, cruise ships, told IE: "Obviously Oasis is a significant installation for us as the scope of the ship is unlike any before it. But based on our solid and global track record in serving the world's leading and largest cruise liners for decades, this was hardly a new experience for us. We have the procedures, solutions and personnel in place and all supported by our dedicated spirit to cooperate effectively with cruise line companies which has positioned Martin with the largest market share in the industry."
Maintaining its long association with Royal Caribbean, Martin Pro is supplying an identical package to the Oasis's forthcoming sister ship, Allure of the Seas, which is set to begin its maiden voyage towards the end of this year.
