The dockyard of A&P Falmouth in south-west England has completed a multi-million-pound programme of works on the largest passenger ship to visit the facility in over 60 years.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ flagship MV Bolette which carries up to 1,338 passengers and 645 crew had entered the dry dock in Cornwall on 23 February and was completed on Tuesday of last week.

The 13-day refurbishment included maintenance to the cruiseship’s azipods and bow thrusters as well a new application of underwater paint.

Over 500 members of the A&P workforce and supply chain have been working around the clock to support this contract from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines which is based in Ipswich, Suffolk. The cruise operator, which is part of the Norwegian Olsen group, offers regional cruises departing from Dover, Southampton, Liverpool, Newcastle and Rosyth (Edinburgh).

During the dry-docking of Bolette, the workforce included 32 apprentices that have had the experience to work on board the former Amsterdam, Afloat adds, of original operator Holland America Line (HAL) which along with sister Rotterdam has called to Irish ports.

Both mid-sized cruiseships (approx.62,000 gross tonnage) were acquired by Fred. Olsen during the fallout of the first year of Covid19 that severely impacted the global cruise industry.

This is the second time in 12 months that Fred. Olsen has chosen to dock at A&P Falmouth, with their third ship Balmoral completing a programme of work in May last year. On that occasion work included steel inserts, ship side valves, tunnel thruster overhaul and underwater paint.

Mike Spicer, Managing Director of A&P Falmouth said: “A&P was delighted to welcome Bolette to the facility".

David McGinley, CEO said; “It is fantastic to welcome Fred. Olsen's Bolette into A&P Falmouth. Projects such as these help us to sustain our workforce, apprenticeship programme and supply chain which drives prosperity and adds real social value to the South West of England".

“We are delighted to continue our partnership with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, welcoming their cruise ships for dry dockings across our Group.”

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has returned to Newcastle but for the first time with the newly refurbished Bolette, which embarked on its inaugural season based from the North Sea port.

The passengers on board the flagship's current cruise from Newcastle is titled ‘In Search of the Northern Lights in Nine Nights’.

The milestone for Fred. Olsen was marked with a plaque exchange from the Port of Tyne to Captain Mikael Degerlund prior to Bolette setting sail.

Afloat adds the cruiseship was tracked this morning (13th March) to the port of Tromso, Norway.