Trimline rebuilds crew cabins on Island Escape

A major refit of crew accommodation on Thomson Cruises’ Island Escape has ensured a bright start to 2011 for Southampton-based marine outfitters Trimline. A team of more than 60 Trimline personnel is carrying out the two-month project in the Lisnave yard in Lisbon and is set to apply the finishing touches to the project as the ship sails for Tenerife to resume cruising.They have re-built 74 crew cabins from the floor upwards, initially installing a floating floor on a steel deck followed by fitting bulkheads and deckheads. Once the framework of the cabins is in place, electricians and plumbers are setting to work wiring the areas and fitting new wet units, including basins and showers, plus installing HVAC modifications. The cabins are then to be fitted out with new furniture, fittings and soft furnishings. Trimline has previously upgraded the passenger areas of Island Escape when the vessel was part of the Island Cruises fleet and further passenger work has been included in the latest project, including new carpets in public areas.Trimline sales and marketing director Mike Oliver explained: 'This is a multi-million pound project to ensure that Island Escape maintains Thomson fleet standards and we expect our wide experience of the ship to be extremely valuable as the owner continues the upgrade programme.'The niche cruise ship Hebridean Princess is also benefitting from Trimline’s expertise in cabin work with new passenger accommodation being created and fitted out from an existing cabin area while the  ship is docked in Glasgow. Trimline's versatility in refitting work is illustrated by a refurbishment job it is doing on the former Royal Navy destroyer HMS Bristol, now used as a cadet accommodation ship. One of the more unusual tasks while the ship docks at A&P’s Tyne yard is to create a lecture theatre spread over two decks from a former missile silo.The promising start to 2011 continues a good end to the previous year when Trimline completed major projects on the Cunard ships Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria.