Firm wins deal to refit luxury cruise ships

A Northern Ireland-based contractor has been commissioned to outfit two of the world’s most luxurious cruise ships.

The Antrim-based company has won “two of the most sought after contracts this year”, worth £2.4m (€3.6m), to refit two ships in the Bahamas and Germany.

Carnival Cruises has commissioned Mivan to refit its cruiser, the Jubilee, which will be renamed Pacific Sun.

Mivan workers will have approximately three weeks at Freeport, Grand Bahama Shipyard, before the Pacific Sun sets sail for Australia.

The contract, which was agreed two weeks ago during the prestigious Seatrade exhibition in Miami, covers the conversion of public spaces including a spa, casino, photo gallery, video arcade, lounges and children’s areas.

The company has also been contracted to make major modifications to the P&O Liner, Oriana.

It will modify the cafeteria and manufacture display cases for the liner’s shop and kiosk.

The contact will be completed over a two week period at the Lloyd-Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany.

Much of the work for both cruise ships, however, will be prefabricated in Antrim.

Mivan chief executive Dr Ivan McCabrey said the contracts were a great boost for the company and would also enhance “the reputation of Northern Ireland as a location for manufacturing and fabrication”.

“The cruise market is growing rapidly and as customers become more demanding, design and outfitting is becoming increasingly innovative," he said.

“We are therefore delighted to have won two of the most sought-after outfitting contracts in the world this year.”