By
Alex Smith |
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Borealis has completed a multimillion-pound refurbishment programme at Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, UK.
Borealis arrived on 28 October for a 14-day refurbishment, including steel repairs, an overhaul of the shafts and propellers, and a new application of underwater paint. More than 150 members of Cammell Laird’s workforce worked on the ship, which was the first cruise vessel to undergo repairs at the site for over 25 years.
The ship sailed out of Cammell Laird’s site on 12 November, before embarking from nearby Liverpool, UK, on a Northern Europe cruise the next day.
“Cammell Laird was delighted to welcome Borealis and her crew to our facility, and be given the opportunity to showcase Cammell Laird's ship repair capabilities,” said David McGinley, chief executive of Cammell Laird. "It took over 150 members of the Cammell Laird workforce, including apprentices, to complete the programme of works - which injected well in excess of a million pounds into the local economy. Contracts such as these deliver significant economic value to the Liverpool City region and we look forward to welcoming the Borealis again as well as other members of the Fred. Olsen fleet."
Borealis joined the Fred. Olsen fleet in 2020 and has sailed from its homeport in Liverpool since sailing resumed after the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. Its upcoming sailings from the city include the voyages to both Northern and Western Europe, including a two-week Christmas sailing to the Canary Islands, before setting sail on an ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ itinerary in February.
“I would like to thank the people of Liverpool, Birkenhead and Cammell Laird for looking after our ship Borealis during her time in dry dock,” said Peter Deer, managing director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. “We cherish the relationship we have with the people in the area, whether that be our guests, our friends at Cruise Liverpool or the men and women of Cammell Laird who have worked hard to get Borealis refurbished in time for her upcoming sailings.”