Nowhere in the world is the density of islands higher than in the Finnish Åland archipelago. According to the University of Turku, 44,225 islands of different sizes are scattered across the picturesque archipelago. If you want to visit the islands, you can do so by ferry. For example, with the Viking Grace, a ferry operated by the Finnish shipping company Viking Line, which runs daily between Stockholm and Turku. "It was the first ferry that Hella marine equipped with innovative LED lighting. That was in 2013," says Ansgar Hinrichs, Global Sales Manager of the Hella marine brand, under which FORVIA HELLA has been producing lighting solutions specifically for the shipping industry in Romania, Austria and New Zealand since 1925. Since then, Hella marine has established itself as a partner in this segment and has equipped over 50 ships in the last ten years alone.
Innovative lighting on cruise ships: focus on safety, comfort and atmosphere
On cruise ships in particular, lighting is more than just a functional necessity. "It also makes a significant contribution to safety, comfort and the atmosphere on board," says Hinrichs. Hella marine's bestsellers are LED spotlights that illuminate pool and wellness areas, cabins and public areas, for example. Ambient functions and lighting scenarios are also playing an increasingly important role. "Every customer has very different requirements, which we cover with our customised products." For example, the colour temperature, aperture angle, cable length, plug, decorative frame colours and preferred dimming system can be selected. "Intelligent lighting systems that automatically adapt to the needs of passengers are also becoming increasingly popular, for example." Keywords such as "Dim-To-Warm" and "Human Centric Lighting" are important here. With the "Dim-To-Warm" concept, for example, the light can be dimmed from a cool white with 5000 Kelvin to a cosy dinner light with 2700 Kelvin. "Human Centric Lighting" adapts the lighting to the time of day: In the morning, bright, white light provides energy, while warmer light in the evening promotes tiredness and relaxation.
LED technology for sustainability and efficiency at sea
The topic of sustainability and efficiency is also becoming increasingly important. The International Maritime Organisation, for example, has set itself the goal of achieving net-zero emissions from shipping by 2050 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent by 2040 compared to 2008 levels. "There are up to 180,000 individual independent light points on a ship," says Hinrichs. "By using LED lamps, cruise ships can significantly reduce their energy consumption. This is because LEDs have a longer service life and require less maintenance, which leads to a reduction in operating costs and environmental impact," explains Hinrichs.
Refurbishment business harbours great potential
In addition to equipping new ships with LED products, Hella marine is also active in the refurbishment sector. "After ten years in service, most ships require a refit, i.e. a comprehensive overhaul or modernisation. This harbours enormous potential for us," says Hinrichs. "Our competitive advantage is that we can quickly supply our customers with a suitable spare part at any time." Hella marine has set up a unique system that allows products to be clearly assigned. "We have precise information about which light we have supplied at which position on which ship with which mechanical and customer-specific interfaces." Hella marine also has the necessary capacity to manufacture and supply spare parts in the shortest possible time. This would ensure that the Viking Grace is always safely illuminated when travelling in the Finnish archipelago.
