Displaying items by tag: Record Turnover

25th January 2022

Interior Refurbishment Firm Sees Record Cruise Ship Business in Pandemic

An interior refurbishment company in the UK sees record business in pandemic with work carried out an Irish Sea shipyard on Merseyside. Above cruiseships Afloat has indentified from Cunard Line and P&O Cruises, both of the same 'Vista' class design.

An interior design firm in the UK which has carried out refurbishment work on some of the world’s most famous cruise ships says it has enjoyed record turnover in the past eight months.

Atlantic Marine Interiors based in Christchurch, Dorset, carried out refits and maintenance to the Queen Mary II, Queen Elizabeth, Arcadia, Britannia, Iona, Azura and Ventura during the pandemic.

Chris Head, who founded the company in 2013, said: “Probably the ghostliest sight for us was all of those cruise ships at anchor off the coast of Dorset during the pandemic. But when the green light came for them to start operating again in May, planning started for their return to service, and our workload went off the scale.”

During this period, Atlantic also modernised the historic RMS St Helena to transport the Extreme E electric motorsport team and its cars around the world.

This involved work on the bridge, VIP and owners’ suites, VIP lounge and bar, science laboratory, restaurant and galley and fitting out suites for champion drivers Lewis Hamilton (related story) and Jensen Button.

The Daily Echo has more on this business where fitting out took place at the Merseyside shipyard of Cammell Laird in Birkenhead.

Published in Cruise Liners

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Record Turnover

Record Turnover Announced at Foyle Port Despite Brexit Uncertainty

A record turnover of £10m was achieved at Foyle Port during 2018/19. Above: Afloat adds is the bulk-carrier Clover Colossus berthed at Lisahally, the port's main terminal located downriver of Derry city.

It has been announced that Foyleport had a record £10 million in turnover despite the uncertainty posed by Brexit.

The Derry harbour, reports The Irish News, recorded an operating profit of £1.9m during 2018/19, marking its seventh year of consecutive growth.

The record turnover followed the port's handling of record levels of animal feed and fertiliser.

It means that all three of the north's ports have reported growth in the past year.

In June, Warrenpoint Port said its turnover rose by 5.5 per cent to £6.1m during 2018.

Further reading on the story can be found here.

Published in Ports & Shipping

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Ireland & La Solitaire du Figaro

The Solitaire du Figaro, was originally called the course de l’Aurore until 1980, was created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and Jean-Michel Barrault.

Half a decade later, the race has created some of France's top offshore sailors, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary with a new boat equipped with foils and almost 50 skippers Including novices, aficionados and six former winners.

The solo multi-stage offshore sailing race is one of the most cherished races in French sailing and one that has had Irish interest stretching back over 20 years due to the number of Irish stopovers, usually the only foreign leg of the French race.

What Irish ports have hosted The Solitaire du Figaro?

The race has previously called to Ireland to the following ports; Dingle, Kinsale, Crosshaven, Howth and Dun Laoghaire.

What Irish sailors have raced The Solitaire du Figaro?

So far there have been seven Irish skippers to participate in La Solitaire du Figaro.

In 1997, County Kerry's Damian Foxall first tackled the Figaro from Ireland. His win in the Rookie division in DHL gave him the budget to compete again the following year with Barlo Plastics where he won the final leg of the race from Gijon to Concarneau. That same year a second Irish sailor Marcus Hutchinson sailing Bergamotte completed the course in 26th place and third Rookie.

In 2000, Hutchinson of Howth Yacht Club completed the course again with IMPACT, again finishing in the twenties.

In 2006, Paul O’Riain became the third Irish skipper to complete the course.

In 2013, Royal Cork's David Kenefick raised the bar by becoming a top rookie sailor in the race.

In 2018, for the first time, Ireland had two Irish boats in the offshore race thanks to Tom Dolan and Joan Mulloy who joined the rookie ranks and kept the Irish tricolour flying high in France. Mulloy became the first Irish female to take on the race.

Tom Dolan in Smurfit Kappa competed for his third year in 2020 after a 25th place finish in 2019. Dolan sailed a remarkably consistent series in 2020 and took fifth overall, the best finish by a non-French skipper since 1997 when Switzerland’s Dominique Wavre finished runner up. Dolan wins the VIVI Trophy.

Dolan finished 10th on the first stage, 11th on the second and seventh into Saint Nazaire at the end of the third stage. Stage four was abandoned due to lack of wind.

Also in 2020, Dun Laoghaire’s Kenneth Rumball became the eleventh Irish sailor to sail the Figaro.

At A Glance – Figaro Race

It starts in June or July from a French port.
The race is split into four stages varying from year to year, from the length of the French coast and making up a total of around 1,500 to 2,000 nautical miles (1,700 to 2,300 mi; 2,800 to 3,700 km) on average.
Over the years the race has lasted between 10 and 13 days at sea.
The competitor is alone in the boat, participation is mixed.
Since 1990, all boats are of one design.