Page 32: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (July 2019)

INTERVIEW: Fredrik Johansson, MA, Partner, Executive Project Director, Tillberg Design of Sweden

All Images: Tillberg Design of Sweden

Fit for Design

Tillberg Design of Sweden has been a central player in the six-year quest to envision, design, build and launch The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection brand. It has had a hand in all design aspects, from vessel exterior and interior, down to the service organization and the crew uni- forms, as Fredrik Johansson, MA, Partner, Executive Project Director, explains.

By Greg Trauthwein “Everything was designed from The Ritz-Carlton Brand ners, and today the ? rm numbers more but today it is unheard of; the owners scratch with one thing in mind: the guest Like ‘Rolls-Royce’ or ‘Gucci,’ the than 100 employees. want their ships built now,” but the build experience,” is how Fredrik Johansson Ritz-Carlton name is a universally rec- Today he is the point of the spear for slots are increasingly tough to get. Build neatly summarizes the quest to deliver ognized symbol of style and excellence, Tillberg Design of Sweden, building re- dates sliding years into the future is a de- the Ritz-Carlton brand to the water. The and Tillberg Design of Sweden’s man- lationships and getting in on the ground sign issue in and of itself. “It is a chal- ship, when delivered from Hijos de J. date to bring that brand to life on the wa- ? oor of projects to ensure that the proj- lenge trying to design something today

Barreras Shipyard in Vigo, Spain, later ter is unique in that it has had a voice and ect and contract is structured correctly that will be launched in ? ve years and this year, will measure 624 ft. in length a hand in the cumulative package. To Jo- before handing off to his design teams then sail for 20 years,” said Johansson, with 11 decks, able to carry 298 passen- hansson, the outstanding design aspect for the details. noting that the design has to be relevant gers and 246 crew in unrivalled style. of this ship is “The entity as a whole. While citing ‘people’ as an organiza- and technically ? exible. That’s why it is

The mission to bring the ship from From the ? rst impression when you see tions strength has become somewhat “more important than ever to have an ex- drawing board to the water was started the ship on the horizon, down to the ? nal cliché, in the case of Tillberg Design of perienced and competent team that can nearly six years ago when Johansson design detail and service when you step Sweden it is a particular point of focus, ensure the contracts are structured and was invited to Marriott’s headquarters to onboard.” particularly as the red-hot cruise market executed well.” present his team’s vision of the vessel, a Johansson joined this venerable design maintains momentum, cruise ship build While it could be surmised that the cruise ship in name but a private yacht house 25 years ago, and has had his hand slots become rare and pushed further Ritz-Carlton vessel would be more ‘inti- at heart. While the plans have changed in a number of signature projects, in- into the future, and as new, less-experi- mate’ and ‘private’, Johansson says that along the way, the mandate to Johansson cluding the Queen Mary II newbuild. He enced shipyards enter the picture. he sees that trend evolving, even on the and his team was clear from the start, as was one of three partners that executed a “The situation in the cruise industry larger cruise ships and land-side destina- he remembers the leaders of Marriott management buyout of the ? rm in 2006, today is unique,” said Johansson in as- tions. “Even the larger cruise ships are saying that they wanted ‘the anti-cruise and just last year the partners opened the sessing the market’s current pace. “We (starting) to offer a more personal, inti- ship.’ door to a few key ? nancial interest part- had a similar situation in the late 1990s, mate experience,” as designers of cruise 32 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • JULY 2019

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