SNIPEF, the Scotland and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employer’s Federation, is supporting the launch of a new campaign to help keep customers’ tap water fresh by signing up qualified plumbers in Northern Ireland to a UK-wide plumbing register. Northern Ireland Water and WaterSafe, the UK-wide accreditation body for competent and qualified plumbers,
Many people will redecorate the rooms in their home every few years, but the staircase often is neglected and left untouched for many years. Most home have a staircase to get between floors but these can be made to be a great feature of your home. There are many
A new survey by online ironmongery supplier, IronmongeryDirect, has found that 52% of tradespeople have fallen victim to tool theft, with almost a quarter (21%) saying it’s happened to them more than once. The results of the survey, completed by 1,000 tradespeople, back up the reported 54% rise in tool
Will oversee 460 acres of prime development land in Ireland Led by experienced Irish management team, Eddie Byrne and Michael Hynes Assets will make Quintain the third largest residential developer in Ireland Quintain Limited has established a subsidiary in Ireland with plans to develop more than 9,000 new homes and
A PLAN for a major new distribution centre in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter can go ahead, city planning officials have signalled. Titanic Quarter Ltd’s proposal would see full demolition of the existing industrial building on the site next to Queens Road, replacing it with a modern and larger 100,000 sq ft
The growing shift to online shopping by consumers is behind many of the recent well-publicised closures on the high street. But the trend is also bolstering tender opportunities in the industrial sector as new logistics and warehouse construction keeps growing to meet demand for distribution space. A recent trading update
If you’re considering offering rent to own real estate to prospective tenants, or simply renting a house to tenants the traditional way, it’s important to be aware of what’s involved in being a property manager. As it can take up a lot of time, many homeowners choose to hire a
Choosing the correct ladder for any given job can often be a bit of a minefield as there are so many different pieces of equipment for various working-at-height tasks. Hopefully this guide can be of some help should you need any pointers when selecting the correct solution. Choosing the correct
Murphy Plant, part of the specialist engineering and construction company J. Murphy & Sons Limited, is continuing to make major investments in temporary site welfare facilities with AJC EasyCabin. Their latest order comprises twenty 20ft static units and five 12ft mobiles. Murphy Plant now has over one hundred EasyCabin welfare
UK metal bending expert, Barnshaws Sections Benders, has supported two marine projects by providing precision-curved, rectangular hollow section (RHS) to support contractor Leisure Structures. The work was part of the recent interior refurbishments of the Celebrity Summit and Celebrity Millennium cruise liners. Barnshaws delivered a tonne of precision-curved stainless steel
SNIPEF, the Scotland and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employer’s Federation, is supporting the launch of a new campaign to help keep customers’ tap water fresh by signing up qualified plumbers in Northern Ireland to a UK-wide plumbing register. Northern Ireland Water and WaterSafe, the UK-wide accreditation body for competent and qualified plumbers, want to tackle the poor plumbing in the home or workplace which can create such problems as strange taste, discolouration, and leaks, by signing up all of the Province’s plumbers to its WaterSafe register. Legally speaking, when water leaves Northern Ireland Water’s mains and enters the pipes supplying a property it becomes the owner’s responsibility to keep it safe and free from contamination. By working together with skilled professionals, however, many of these issues can be avoided altogether or rapidly resolved. Plumbers on the register are fully trained in the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland 2009), designed to keep water safe, and not waste it, as well as being appropriately insured with a customer redress scheme in place. In addition, plumbers on the WaterSafe register can self-notify their work to Northern Ireland Water – and issue a certificate stating that the plumbing work complies with the regulations, which protects customers from any legal comeback. Fiona Hodgson, CEO of SNIPEF said, “As an approved WaterSafe scheme provider SNIPEF is all about promoting high standards, quality work, professionalism and regulation in the industry. “We want to ensure that only qualified professionals can carry out plumbing and heating work so that the water is kept safe. Being WaterSafe registered is a way to do this and we encourage qualified Northern Irish operatives to join the register by contacting SNIPEF.” Becoming a SNIPEF member allows qualified plumbers to become WaterSafe registered for no extra cost. Other benefits from becoming a SNIPEF member include access to specialist advice, industry discounts, free listing on its Need a Plumber website and much more. Julie Spinks, director of WaterSafe, said: “Being a member of WaterSafe is a great way for competent plumbers to provide immediate reassurance to their customers that they are qualified to do the job and keep their drinking water safe. “WaterSafe is supported by all the water companies in the UK, as well as the water industry regulator, the Drinking Water Inspectorate. Membership comes with many benefits and we urge plumbers who are proud of their work and want to find out more about joining, or taking the final training steps to join, to get in touch today. Members of WaterSafe will benefit from; free promotion and branding, customer reassurance and a direct link to Northern Ireland Water. To join WaterSafe, plumbers must be qualified, have a water regulations certificate, and be a member of an existing approved contractors’ scheme. In Northern Ireland this can be the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation or the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering. Once a member of one of these schemes, plumbers can join WaterSafe for free. Plumbers interested in finding out more can visit watersafe.org.uk/howtojoin or call 0333 207 9030. For more information on a SNIPEF membership call 0131 556 0600 option 1.
Many people will redecorate the rooms in their home every few years, but the staircase often is neglected and left untouched for many years. Most home have a staircase to get between floors but these can be made to be a great feature of your home. There are many materials that you can use with wood being the most traditional material used. One of the latest trends in staircase design is to combine wood with glass to create stunning staircase designs. Glass combined with oak offers beauty and simplicity which brings a touch of class to the staircase. Combining glass balustrades with solid oak handrails create a timeless look and brings traditional carpentry in to the 21st century and makes the staircase the focal point of the property. A bespoke staircase has the potential to transform your home and by using glass and wood you can create a feeling of light and space and is becoming increasingly popular nowadays. One of the best finishes involves the use of American white oak with glass balustrades to create a light and airy feel which combines the beauty of the wood with glass to form a stunning staircase design to forms the centre piece of your home. One of the leading staircase design and installation companies in the world is Jarrods Staircases and Carpentry who are specialists in bespoke wood, metal and glass staircases. They create every staircase from scratch which means every staircase they design is bespoke and designed to perfectly fit your home in a style that suits your lifestyle and your budget. Glass Staircases Glass staircases let light flood into dark hallways and breathe life into enclosed spaces. A bespoke glass staircase is one of the most popular products that are available in the staircase market place. You can replace a regular balustrade with a glass balustrade to increase the elegance of your stairs and transfer your home with a modern glass staircase. Glass staircases let light pour into your home and give the illusion of more space in your home. Oak Staircases Oak is a great wood for staircase construction and looks very high class when installed and designed properly. You also have a great range of options with oak, you can have an all oak staircase or you can combine oak with glass to create the perfect staircase design for your home. You can even have spiral staircase made of oak to add the x factor to your home. Metal Staircases Steel is another great material you can use for your staircase to create a stunning design. Steel can also be combined with Oak or glass to create a stunning looking staircase which is both strong and good looking. Iron can also be used for staircases and you can create fantastic looking staircases and it can also be combined with both wood and glass. Floating staircases Self-supporting or floating staircases can give a dramatic look to your home and your visitors will be amazed when they enter your home. Floating stairs can be made out of wood, glass and metal or a combination of all if required. Glass balustrades combined with wooden stair treads can create a breath-taking look. What ever type of staircase you prefer there is a great choice available on the market place and there is something available for everyone’s tastes and budget.
A new survey by online ironmongery supplier, IronmongeryDirect, has found that 52% of tradespeople have fallen victim to tool theft, with almost a quarter (21%) saying it’s happened to them more than once. The results of the survey, completed by 1,000 tradespeople, back up the reported 54% rise in tool thefts in the last two years* – with even a quarter of those who haven’t been a victim reporting that they know someone who has. Each theft is reported to cost a tradesperson on average £1,200**, which equates to typically more than a week’s pay. Commenting on the survey results, Marco Verdonkschot, Managing Director of IronmongeryDirect, said: “It is worrying to see that across the industry tool theft numbers are continuing to rise, especially during the dark winter months. “There are a number of simple steps tradespeople can take to increase their van security such as parking against a wall in a well-lit area when out on a job, installing a van safe or taking their tools inside overnight. To tighten up security even further, van lock protection plates, dashcams or CCTV systems can be fantastic deterrents for would-be thieves.” For more survey results, please visit www.ironmongerydirect.com/landing/trade-barometer. IronmongeryDirect has over 18,000 products available and in stock. Orders can be placed as late as 8pm for next day delivery from Sunday through to Friday and by 4pm on Saturdays. Free, no quibble returns are available on all products. For more information, visit IronmongeryDirect.com or call their team of specialist advisors on 0800 168 28 28.
Will oversee 460 acres of prime development land in Ireland Led by experienced Irish management team, Eddie Byrne and Michael Hynes Assets will make Quintain the third largest residential developer in Ireland Quintain Limited has established a subsidiary in Ireland with plans to develop more than 9,000 new homes and 600,000 sq. ft of commercial space. The newly incorporated business, known as Quintain Ireland, will be responsible for the residential development of over 460 acres of prime assets in Ireland at Adamstown, Clonburris, Portmarnock, and Cherrywood. All these sites are owned by affiliates of Lone Star Funds and will be managed directly by Quintain. The business will launch with an experienced 12-person team focused solely on Ireland, jointly led by Eddie Byrne and Michael Hynes. The Quintain team in Ireland is expected to grow to over 25 next year and will manage a range of local construction partners. The Irish team will be fully integrated with the wider London-based team. Quintain will be resourced to replicate in Ireland the parent company’s strong record of delivery in London. The existing Irish portfolio, covering over 460 acres, will make Quintain the third largest residential developer in the country. Adamstown can accommodate approximately 5,000 homes across 220 acres of land, with further land at the neighbouring Clonburris site, to build approximately 350 houses; the recently acquired Cherrywood site is 120 acres and has an expected capacity of 3,000 homes; and the 87 acres in Portmarnock has the potential for 1,000 homes. The company intends to utilise its extensive experience to deliver market leading developments on its existing portfolio with a strong appetite to expand its portfolio of future development projects. The decision to expand into Ireland follows the increase in demand for housing, especially in the Greater Dublin area, as more people move to take advantage of the strong economy and job opportunities. James Saunders, Chief Executive of Quintain Limited, said: “Quintain has been actively looking at new opportunities to expand its business for some time and I am therefore extremely proud to announce our expansion into Ireland, with a huge commitment to take on the delivery of more than 9,000 homes across four sites spanning 460 acres in Greater Dublin. We have an established team on the ground in Ireland led by Eddie Byrne and Michael Hynes, who have over 40 years’ experience in the Irish and international property market. When you mix this local expertise with Quintain’s track record in taking forward major mixed-use development schemes, I am confident we will turn these sites into exemplary new places. Alongside our Irish business, we remain focussed on continuing to invest and build out our flagship Wembley Park development in London and have further appetite to secure more development opportunities in the UK and Ireland.” Eddie Byrne, Joint Managing Partner of Quintain Ireland, said: “We are excited to launch this new venture, with the potential to deliver more than 9,000 new homes in the Greater Dublin area, where there is a pressing need for increased housing supply. Quintain Ireland will combine the knowledge of our team on the ground with the wealth of expertise of our parent company in delivering major residential projects. In 2020 we expect to more than double the size of our team in Ireland and expand our development pipeline.” Quintain is a vertically integrated developer, operator and owner of residential and mixed-use assets; best known for the ongoing transformation of Wembley Park in north London. The 85-acre site surrounding Wembley Stadium has become one of the largest urban regeneration projects in Europe with over £2bn invested to date and another £1bn expected by 2022. Quintain first acquired a stake at Wembley Park in 2002. The development is already home to 3,500 residents with another 3,100 homes currently under construction and the project is expected to be fully built out by 2027. Previously Quintain owned the Greenwich Peninsula redevelopment around the 02 Arena in South-East London obtaining planning permission to deliver 10,000 new homes.
A PLAN for a major new distribution centre in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter can go ahead, city planning officials have signalled. Titanic Quarter Ltd’s proposal would see full demolition of the existing industrial building on the site next to Queens Road, replacing it with a modern and larger 100,000 sq ft facility. Industry monitor Construction Information Services estimates the value of the project at just under £6 million. Most of the development (86,100 sq ft) will be dedicated to the new distribution warehouse, with another 7,000 sq ft set aside for a van storage centre. In a report prepared for Belfast City Council’s planning committee monthly meeting on Tuesday, 560 parking spaces will be provided on site. A total of 318 spaces will be specifically for delivery vans, with 161 set aside for drivers. Another 81 are earmarked for staff and visitors. That report recommends approval for the project. Titanic Quarter Ltd is a company set up to develop 161.5 acres within the Titanic Quarter ultimately owned by landlord Belfast Harbour Commissioners. It is one of a group of companies that makes up Titanic Property Development Ltd. The group has overseen around £425m of development projects to date, comprising around 1.5 million square feet. Its directors have valued the development land at £25.9m. The latest major development includes Olympic House on Queens Road. Enabling works on the £26.5m office building began in June. The most recent accounts for Titanic Property Development Ltd show it turned a pre-tax profit of £4.9m in the 12 months to December 31 2018, down on a pre-tax profit of £6.2m from 2017. Titanic Property Development Ltd’s ultimate controlling parties are the Entice Limited Partnership, owned by Irish businessman Dermot Desmond and Dockside Investments, which is owned by the family of Irish property developer Pat Doherty. The report states that both parent parties have confirmed they will not seek repayment of £26.3m of existing loans for the foreseeable future. Shareholder loans are subordinated to Danske Bank and Bottin Investments, which is also owned by Dermot Desmond. In 2017, Mr Desmond injected an additional £29m into the company. The Titanic group of companies also refinanced £75m worth of loans with Danske bank the same year.
The growing shift to online shopping by consumers is behind many of the recent well-publicised closures on the high street. But the trend is also bolstering tender opportunities in the industrial sector as new logistics and warehouse construction keeps growing to meet demand for distribution space. A recent trading update from Segro, one of the largest owners of logistics warehouses, suggests activity and tender opportunities in the sector remain brisk. The firm has seen a strong start to 2018 having secured a record £27 million of new rent in the first quarter and with occupational demand encouraging across all its markets, particularly driven by the growth of online retailing. Segro completed 146,500 sq m of new industrial construction projects in the first quarter. Moreover, the volume of new space either approved or with building projects under development across the group, stood at 1 million sq m at the end of March, up from 693, 900 sq m at the start of the year. Indeed, Glenigan’s Construction market analysis shows tenders are currently being invited on a £10 million Segro industrial building project in Newham, covering 4795 sqm and with work set to start in late 2018. £350 million development cap-ex Today, Segro’s development pipeline includes new pre-lets totalling 490,000 sq m, of which 270,000 sq m is to online retailers. At one key site, SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway, the pre-lets include 122,000 sq m to a major online retailer and 60,000 sq m to a third-party logistics provider. Overall, Segro expects its development capital expenditure to exceed £350 million for 2018. Elsewhere, the go-ahead for a third runway at Heathrow Airport is likely to boost construction tender leads in the industrial sector further, as the growth of air cargo creates extra demand for warehouse space in the area. Segro, which owns significant portfolio around Heathrow, is well-placed to benefit. The potential for construction projects for the internet shopping sector has also been highlighted by the recent surge in the share price of Ocado, the pioneer in grocery deliveries, which is set to join the FTSE 100 this month. The outlook for the group which has a major facility at Andover and is set to open a new one at Erith in coming months, has brightened recently helped by a series of international partnerships. Tender opportunities Meanwhile, the outlook for tender opportunities across the industrial sector remains promising. Glenigan Construction market analysis shows that the value of underlying industrial construction starts rose by 19% last year and were up by 1% in the four months to April this year, compared to the period last year. The regional picture varies but activity looks particularly strong in key regions such as the East of England (where the value of starts is up 95% in January-April), London (up 24%) and the West Midlands (up 52%). A mark of confidence in the sector in the East of England is the start of construction work in recent weeks on two speculative logistics units covering 350,000 sq ft which are being developed by Jaynic at Suffolk Park, near Bury St Edmunds. Readie Construction is expected to complete the scheme by next November.
If you’re considering offering rent to own real estate to prospective tenants, or simply renting a house to tenants the traditional way, it’s important to be aware of what’s involved in being a property manager. As it can take up a lot of time, many homeowners choose to hire a property manager to handle the job for them, which may be charged at a flat fee or a percentage of the rent, typically between 4% and 12% of the gross monthly rent. A property manager does it all when it comes to managing a property, just some of the many responsibilities he or she takes care of includes the following. Assessing the Property and Recommending Rent Rates The property manager will ask the homeowner questions in order to recommend the rent price and search for the right tenant. They’ll determine whether the home needs any repairs or upgrades, if pets will be accepted or if there are any other criteria that the right tenant needs to meet. Marketing the Home Once the home is ready for tenants to move in, the property manager will take high-quality pictures and then start marketing it to find the best possible fit in the shortest amount of time. They’ll do a lot more than simply post the rental on Craigslist – they’ll generate leads through a variety of methods, including social media and other advertising, in a way that makes the home sound the most appealing. Tenant Screening One of the most difficult aspects of finding reliable tenants is tenant screening. The manager will handle all calls, emails, and applications, perform a range of background checks like rental history, employment, credit, and criminal lists while also making sure everything is conducted in compliance with fair housing and discrimination laws to protect the owner from any housing discrimination claims. They’ll also have to give prospective tenants a walkthrough of the property. Collecting Security Deposits and Rent Once the property manager finds the right applicant, they’ll recommend the prospective tenant to the homeowner for approval. Once approved they’ll collect the security deposit and hold it in an escrow account so that the funds won’t be co-mingled. They’ll also collect the rent, including both the first and last month’s rent if applicable. When the tenant moves in, the property manager will continue to collect the rent, handle any late payments and other potential financial problems, such as communicating with the tenant if the rent is overdue. Some property managers can help homeowners get their rent payments faster by allowing tenants to pay online and then transferring those funds into their bank accounts. Maintenance and Repairs The property manager is usually responsible for maintenance and repairs. The homeowner may provide money that can be used for emergencies like a broken refrigerator which is held in a maintenance reserve fund. In some cases they may take care of things like lawn mowing and leaf removal is the tenant isn’t designated to take care of those issues. Evictions and Move-Outs If the tenant fails to pay rent or breaks other rules, regulations or laws, the property manager will handle the eviction process, as well as ensure the policy is clearly stated in the rental agreement. When tenants move out, they’ll handle the walkthrough and determine which if any repairs are needed that go beyond normal wear and tear. They’ll be responsible for ensuring the repairs are fixed and everything is clean for the next tenant.
Choosing the correct ladder for any given job can often be a bit of a minefield as there are so many different pieces of equipment for various working-at-height tasks. Hopefully this guide can be of some help should you need any pointers when selecting the correct solution. Choosing the correct material. The two materials that ladders and access equipment tend to come in is aluminium or fiberglass, as you can see here. Aluminium ladders tend to be slightly lighter than the fiberglass ones. It can be a misconception that the aluminium ones are sturdier than the fiberglass ones as they are both tested to the same standards for durability and weight loading. The reason fiberglass ones were introduced was that they are non-conductive, usually to 30,000 volts, which obviously makes them ideal for any work that is being carried out around electricity. If you are purchasing a ladder for standard work, or DIY, then an aluminium one will suffice. Choosing Class It is important to make sure you choose an item that is certified to the correct classification for the job. This has become a bit of a grey area since the new standards for ladders came into play this year. Ladders used to be organised into three classifications (Class 1 – Industrial, Class 2- Trade and Class 3 – Domestic) This has now been changed and has been somewhat simplified into two classifications EN121 Non-Professional, and EN131 Professional. If a ladder is being used to carry out work in a professional environment, then it is essential to have the EN131 Professional classified equipment, anything that is sold as EN131 professional should be clearly marked as such on any labels on the equipment. The EN131 Non-Professional, as the name suggests, is suitable for anything that is for infrequent home use and DIY etc. It is important to make sure you are working with the correct equipment and classification, not only as it is the safest and best practice for yourself or your employees, but failure to do so can lead to problems with the HSE. Duration of Task Ladders are a practical solution for low risk and short duration tasks. It is recommended not to be on a ladder for a job that takes more than 30 minutes. If you are working on a job that you think will take longer than this, there may be more appropriate solutions, such as a ‘hop-up’ low level platform, or something like a podium step. These would be more suitable as they have a sturdy, larger platform to work off rather than the rungs of a ladder. Height Required Depending on the kind of job you are doing, different types of ladders will be most suited. If it is higher work, such as working at gutter height or fascias, an extension ladder would suit best. These generally come in a two section or three section model, the three section ladders close down to a smaller size so they can be easily transported or stored. If you are working lower than gutter height, for example decorating, home renovations or simply changing a lightbulb a step ladder would suffice and would be the best solution for the job. Step ladders come in two varieties, swingback and platform, as the name suggests a platform stepladder has a platform at the top for more comfortable standing, swingback stepladders have a top tread, which is not for standing on! You should actually never stand on the top three steps of a swingback stepladder. If you have a wide range of tasks in hand a combination ladder is ideal. Combination ladders can easily be turned into step ladders, extension ladders and stairway ladders very easily, giving you a range of available heights to work from, our personal favourites are the Little Giant Combination ladders or the ZargesSkymasters. As mentioned above if you are working at height for longer than 30 minutes at a time you should take a look at a podium steps, hop ups and towers, as well as permanent solutions over portable. Don’t forget to carry out a risk assessment for your work, once you hit heights over the average gutter height ladders may not be the perfect solution. Conclusion Hopefully throughout this simple guide you received the information you were looking for and are now on your way to becoming a ladder expert! Whichever product you go for in the end, ensure you are working safely and taking no unnecessary risks.
Murphy Plant, part of the specialist engineering and construction company J. Murphy & Sons Limited, is continuing to make major investments in temporary site welfare facilities with AJC EasyCabin. Their latest order comprises twenty 20ft static units and five 12ft mobiles. Murphy Plant now has over one hundred EasyCabin welfare cabins in their fleet. These new units will be deployed around the country as replacements for rehired equipment from their supply chain. Commenting on this most recent investment, Managing Director at Murphy Plant, Mike Carpenter said, “The reliability of our current units have been excellent and our team consistently comment on the high quality of the finish. “AJC’s Sales Manager, Mark Samuel, has been an excellent support to ensure that users have a working knowledge of the units. AJC has visited a number of our major sites and projects.” Murphy Plant have been partnering with AJC for a number years. They make reference to AJC’s on-going progress in respect of innovation and manufacturing the most eco-efficient welfare products as a key element in this on-going relationship. Mike continued, “I’d like to think that the original EasyCabin Murphy mobiles in the Murphy-green branding set precedence for a number of companies purchasing similar units. As ever, the after service provided by AJC has been excellent, whether its queries with the units, spare part requirements, or developmental suggestions for improving the products. They are extremely responsive and continually looking to improve. “We find AJC easy to do business with and they always deliver new assets exactly on schedule,” concluded Mike. The units have been delivered to Murphy Plant dressed in the iconic Murphy green livery, ready to be sent to sites throughout the country. Murphy Plant is responsible for the day-to-day enablement and operation of plant, equipment and transport for J. Murphy & Sons Limited. The team offer everything from small electrical drills to a 135 tonne crawler-crane, as well as specialist equipment within rail, pipelines, tunnelling, marine and ground engineering. EasyCabin is the brand name for static and mobile welfare accommodation units manufactured by AJC Trailers Limited. The company has been producing a range of mobile units since 1964 and presently operate from a modern 32,000 sq. ft. plant, based in Luton, Bedfordshire.
UK metal bending expert, Barnshaws Sections Benders, has supported two marine projects by providing precision-curved, rectangular hollow section (RHS) to support contractor Leisure Structures. The work was part of the recent interior refurbishments of the Celebrity Summit and Celebrity Millennium cruise liners. Barnshaws delivered a tonne of precision-curved stainless steel to create two modern, curved canopies forming the entrance to the ship’s restaurants. Though more commonly associated with curved structural steel and aesthetic metal elements in the construction industry, Barnshaws is seeing growing involvement in the marine sector. Its wide range of specialist bending machines, its branches in the West Midlands, Manchester and Scotland, combined with its EXC class 4 for steel fabrication, means the business is well-placed to meet the volume and quality demands of the industry. Leisure Structures reached out to Barnshaws to provide five stainless steel 200 x 100 mm RHS sections at six metres in length curved to a 8980 mm radius. Having worked with Barnshaws in the past, the contractor was well aware of the high-quality workmanship the business could provide. This was particularly important as the curved stainless-steel elements of the canopies would be visible to passengers on both vessels, so it was imperative that rolling and transportation left minimal marking on the steelwork. Each section was ‘protection wrapped’ during the metal bending process to ensure the best possible finish. The Celebrity Summit and Celebrity Millennium were fitted out in Alaska and Singapore respectively. Both are sister ships of the Millennium-class, operated by Celebrity Cruises. The Summit’s two GE gas turbines allow the ship to reach 24 knots and carry 2,218 passengers; while the Millennium relies on the same turbines to carry 2,138 passengers while attaining the same top speed. Stuart Anderson, Sales Manager at Barnshaws, said: “As a group, we have previously supplied high-quality fabrications to support the offshore industry. Supporting cruise liners was new to us, but we have employed our steel curving experience and extensive in-house capabilities to deliver these sections within the project timeframe.”