Saga's newly acquired cruise ship, currently called the Astoria and to be transformed into Saga Pearl II, the latest addition to their fleet, is to undergo her refit and total refurbishment in Swansea Dry Docks, Wales. The Harris Pye Group, based in Barry in Wales, has won two major contracts connected to the work on the vessel being undertaken over the course of the next five months.
The first contract won by Harris Pye Group for a cruise vessel in South Wales is for the provision of the dry dock, and dry dock services which include the complete overhaul of the main engines, auxiliary engines, boilers, HVAC systems, electrical and automation as well as a large quantity of steel and pipeworks, also all hull treatment and tank coatings and all related engineering work throughout the 18500-ton ship.
The second involves the Harris Pye Outfitting and BEK Divisions which will be fully equipping both the Verandah Restaurant and the Discovery Lounge and supplying all necessary galley equipment for both. They will also be involved in the renewal of the crew's cabins.
"We are extremely gratified to win these two contracts - one above the water line, the other below, and to see Swansea Dry Dock in use again after approximately ten years," says Chris David, Technical Director of the Harris Pye Group.
"It was good news to reopen the dock and see it put to good use, and to create quite a number of temporary new jobs which will run through the difficult Christmas period in an economically challenged area such as Swansea. We currently have a short-term lease in order to help transform the Astoria into Saga Pearl II, but we very much hope this will be the first of a number of similar jobs that will make use of this splendid facility, as this would be an addition to our existing relationship Sobrena in France."
The Harris Pye Group will work with the supply chain set up by Saga; and has one member of their management staff dedicated to liaising with, and looking after, the interests and needs of the entire supply chain which comprises companies from England, Ireland and Germany.
"Together with all our fellow contractors, we look forward to ensuring that Saga Pearl II will be ready on time for her bedding down cruises, and her inaugural cruise to the North of Norway in March," says Mark Prendergast, Managing Director of the Harris Pye Group. "This is an exciting challenge for us all; we look forward to meeting, and indeed, exceeding Saga's expectations."
(www.harris-pye.com)