Merseyside shipyard Cammell Laird welcomes MV Borealis for multi-million-pound overhaul – the first cruise vessel to enter the yard in 25 years. Tony McDonough reports

Fred Olsen cruise vessel MV Borealis has entered the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead for a multi-million pound overhaul.

A regular sight at Liverpool cruise terminal, Borealis is the first cruise ship to enter the yard in 25 years. Measuring 238 metres in length, the vessel carries up to 1,360 passengers and 600 crew.

Borealis has now entered number five dry dock for a programme of works. This includes steel repair works, the overhaul of shafts and props, the installation of an incinerator and underwater paint.

More than 150 members of the Cammell Laird workforce will begin working on the vessel. They will be joined by 15 apprentices and hundreds more from Cammell Laird’s supply chain.

Mike Hill, managing director at Cammell Laird said: “The arrival of the MV Borealis into Cammell Laird marks a significant milestone for the business as we look to break into the cruise ship market.

“Cammell Laird’s position on the banks of the River Mersey makes it an ideal facility for cruise ships operating out of Liverpool Cruise Terminal.

“It is vital that ship repair projects are completed on schedule to minimise the downturn of each vessel. The combination of our strategic location, dry docks, fabrication services and wide-reaching skills and capabilities makes Cammell Laird a first-class choice.”

Peter Deer, managing director at Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, added: “Liverpool has been the homeport of Borealis since we resumed sailing in 2021.

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“We have been sailing from the city for almost 20 years now and we are really pleased to be extending this relationship with Cammell Laird as Borealis undertakes her first dry docking at this facility on the River Mersey.

“As a family-run cruise line, we know how important it is to support local communities. By docking in Merseyside, we are pleased to be supporting the Cammell Laird workforce, the local community here and the wider supply chain.”