Oriana returns to A&P Southampton

P&O Cruises' Oriana has completed it's second refit in A&P Group's Southampton yard. Oriana was in dry-dock between 1st and 12th December, followed by sea trials and returned into service on schedule on 13th December when the ship departed on her Christmas cruise, with a full compliment of passengers. The refit works comprised routine ship repair work including the application of International's Intersleek 700 biocide-free fouling-control system to the outer hull. A&P was the first ship repairer ever to apply this product to a cruise ship when Star Cruises' Norway visited the yard during 1996. A&P Southampton's Managing Director, Mike Smith, said that, "the timescale for this refit were extremely tight with only 12 days in dock followed by passengers immediately joining the vessel. By working closely with P&O from the early days of specification preparation it was possible for A&P to ensure that the work was pre-planned in detail and completed within the agreed timescales, ensuring the minimum out of service time for the vessel." The December Oriana refit represents the fifth consecutive refit of a P&O Cruise vessel by A&P, following earlier successful refits of the Arcadia, Oriana and Victoria (twice).