A-Plant Accommodation has delivered and installed 124 accommodation units at a James Fisher Marine Services (JFMS) project in Barrow-in-Furness which is due to last until September 2015.
Three offshore patrol vessels which have been berthed in Barrow since 2007 are being sold to the Indonesian Navy, and are being refurbished and upgraded before they sail as fully-fledged naval vessels.
JFMS awarded the contract to A-Plant following a competitive tender process to provide the accommodation units at a temporary purpose-built site, where the majority of the Indonesian Navy and JFMS staff will reside during the refurbishment phase of the project.
The units provided by A-Plant include modular buildings which will be used as office and administration facilities, catering and dining rooms, and executive sleeping accommodation. The complex that A-Plant supplied even includes prayer rooms and two fully-functioning Launderettes with dryer and washing machines. A number of the units will be used as training rooms by JFMS to provide training to the Indonesian Navy crews on the ships’ systems and their safe operation at sea, as well as familiarising the three crews with the vessels prior to departure to their new home.
A-Plant’s Director of Accommodation, Ian Needham said: “Our extensive experience in delivering accommodation facilities on major projects such as this has been a key component in meeting James Fisher’s specific requirements.
"Being able to successfully specify, design, deliver and install this many units is down to good communication and the excellent working relationship developed by the A-Plant and James Fisher project teams.
"The units themselves are also incorporated with a wide range of sustainable and eco features which include increased levels of insulation, low-energy lighting, energy efficient heating systems and water-saving technology.”
The transfer of all three ships will take place sequentially over the next two years, and at the project’s peak over 80 Indonesian Navy personnel will be on-site and working on the vessels.
James Fisher’s Site Manager, Jonathan Cody, said: “The temporary accommodation units are directly opposite the three vessels and a key objective of the project was to provide the workforce with a fully-serviced home base on site for the coming months.
"We have ensured that local businesses have every opportunity to participate and benefit from the project where possible, and A-Plant’s Penrith Accommodation Service Centre seized that opportunity, together with a number of local catering companies, security firms and logistics firms, to name but a few.”