NEWRY fit-out firm MJM Marine is undertaking its biggest-ever project which will see a team of 1,400 people spend more than a month working on a cruise liner at locations including China and the US.
The company been appointed as the main outfitting contractor by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) to completely refurbish the Norwegian Joy.
The multi-million dollar deal will see MJM Marine take the lead role in the design, manufacture, installation and project management of the interior refit of the 168,000 ton German-built vessel, which carries around 4,000 passengers
MJM, which has build a strong partnership with NCL, has spent a number of months preparing for the project, which will begin onboard Norwegian Joy on March 11 in China and have a completion on April 21 in Seattle.
“This is a truly global project which will take MJM Marine around the world in 42 days,” the company's chief executive Gary Annett said.
“Norwegian Joy is MJM Marine’s largest contract to date and will involve a team of 1,400 completing works in over 40 spaces throughout the ship.
“The design, planning, manufacturing and logistics for the project started at our headquarters in Newry. Our team will join the ship in China and sail to Singapore where the dry dock will take place before making its way to Japan.
“Work will continue at sea as the ship makes its way to Seattle in the United States, where we will hand over the new look vessel before our team returns to Northern Ireland."
He added: “The global footprint on this project is particularly unique, but is an indication of the scale and nature of our business.”
Following the refit, Norwegian Joy will embark on a series of cruises to Alaska before repositioning to Los Angeles.
“Norwegian Joy will be similar to sister ships Norwegian Bliss, which launched just last year, and Norwegian Encore, which will make her debut this November,” said Colin Gant, NCL’s vice president of vessel refurbishment.
“It is a challenging and complex project which is large in scale and short in time, requiring meticulous planning and execution by a top tier outfitter to see it through. We are delighted to join forces with MJM Marine, who has been a reliable partner of ours since 2015.
“MJM Marine bring scale, experience, skill and ability to think outside the box to pull off a project of this magnitude. We are looking towards an exceptionally busy few weeks, at the end of which we will deliver a stunning ship of new build quality to our cruise guests.”
Last week MJM's founder and chairman Brian McConville hinted to the media in Britain that the company could relocate to Poland after Brexit, but has since drawn back on those remarks, insisting the 35-year-old firm is 'pro-Northern Ireland business'.
