Squash is breaking new ground. Squash goes on the sea. In the future All-Glass-Courts will travel across the ocean on modern cruise ships. ASB and AIDA make it possible. ASB, the company from Bavarian Stein, innovative global market leader in the building of squash courts, brings the fast
game on the high seas.
From now on all squash fans can pursue their hobby squash during their sea voyage in the All-Glass-Court on deck of the AIDAdiva. The latest cruise ship of the AIDA "fleet", the AIDAdiva is now on a voyage after completion and after a breathtaking naming ceremony in Hamburg.
On the uppermost deck, directly behind the huge chimney of the big ship you will find the object that people long for: The absolutely sea-worthy ASB SquashCourt. For the first time it was installed on a cruise ship - on deck, open-air - with a view to the surrounding sports facilities and even a better view on the ocean, the clouds and the landscapes passing by.
The court was newly developed and it is completely made of glass. Even the floor is made of a glass surface, which is mounted on a sprung aluminium base. The floor is antiskid. All fittings and connections are seaworthy. The big panes, made of safety glass, are elastically fixed to a newly developed supporting frame, as on the sea high demands are placed on the material.
The glass floor developed by Horst Babinsky has an elastic substructure with seaworthy aluminium parts. The huge glass floor panes made of a double layer of safety glass are placed onto the sub-frame by rubber parts and this ensures protection of the players' joints. The floor's anti-skid surface guarantees dynamic matches even under moonlight. For squash players it will be a new experience to play all over the world, open-air, at sea on an ASB GlassCourt.
It will soon be four AIDA-cruise ships that will be "decorated" with an ASB GlassCourt. For the second cruise ship, the AIDAbella, the traditional lucky cent was laid under the first of a total of 55 building blocks in the beginning of May. Each of the four AIDA cruise ships is 252 metres long and 32 metres wide and 2050 passengers can be accommodated in 1025 cabins. Four diesel engines produce 50 000 BHP, and the cruiser can reach speeds of up to 22 knots.
- On the following web link you will find a photo selection at your disposal : http://www.squashnet.de/squ/aida_eng.htm
