The Regal Princess, a Royal-class cruise ship, underwent a significant engine block replacement during its recent drydock stay at Damen Shiprepair in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
The repair project took place in late April, as part of scheduled maintenance following an engine failure. “The Regal Princess has four diesel generators. The main reason for its drydock was to replace a failed engine,” explained Alexander Stijlaart, project manager at Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam.
The complex engine exchange was carried out in collaboration with Damen’s sister company, Damen Harbour & Voyage, which handled preparatory work weeks before the ship’s arrival at the drydock. The Regal Princess arrived at the facility on April 25, 2025, and after completing repairs, welcomed guests back onboard by May 9, just in time to begin its Northern Europe summer itinerary.
Stijlaart detailed the intricate process involved: “We pumped water out of the dock, removed the shell plate and internal bulkhead, installed skidding tracks, then jacked the engine up and out.” The procedure was then reversed to install the new engine, followed by hull painting.
According to Damen, engine block replacements of this scale are rare, occurring only once or twice every decade.
Remco Trouerbach, project manager at Damen Harbour & Voyage, emphasized the challenge of clearing all obstacles—piping, pumps, and walkways—to create a clear path for the engine removal. Notably, the vessel remained in operation throughout the process, with passengers onboard enjoying cruises around the world.
Highlighting the seamless teamwork between Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam and Damen Harbour & Voyage, Trouerbach noted, “We are basically colleagues, so any issues encountered during the project were resolved smoothly through easy cooperation.”