Major contract signed with cruise operator

The SMS Group has signed a seven-figure contract at Seawork, the firm revealed – which it says is for a turnkey interior outfit and engineering contract for a world-famous UK-based cruise operator.

SMS says the contract has been negotiated for around six months at other events, and culminated on Tuesday at Europe’s largest commercial marine exhibition, Seawork, in Southampton.

“Whilst Seawork is not a cruise or interior outfit specific trade show, it seemed more than perfect to secure the works here in Southampton,” said Dan Lockyer, Head of Interiors. “This win comes on the back of hugely successful outfit projects for both Marella and Holland America Line. Whilst this is a new customer, the scope of work is 100% within our comfort zone; and very much complements the Seawork trade show in terms of content.”

“The package of works involves external and internal steel works, the repositioning of non-structural bulkheads, new pipe works and associates systems, and then a full interior outfit of several major public spaces - both retail and passenger centric,” said Business Development Manager Darren Smith. “Truly turnkey, and ideally suited to SMS’s combined expertise of interior outfit and engineering - so perhaps it perfectly suits Seawork.”

“Our outfit business has grown year on year for the last four years, and as we sign this contract we’re a big step forward to ensuring the same this coming year,” said Lockyer. “Myself, Darren, Nick Border, Chris Bailey and Lawrence Bennetton have worked tremendously hard to build a capable and responsive team, with a real focus on timely delivery and ‘best of class’ project management.

“This win, and our ever-developing repeat business - which is critically important -. is genuinely, genuinely reassuring, and I’d like to thank both my colleagues and our customers alike.”

The SMS Group trades from eight locations in the UK, offering marine engineering and interior outfit solutions both nationally and internationally.