A&P SIGNS PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH RED FUNNEL FERRIES.
A&P Falmouth has entered into a three-year partnership agreement with Red Funnel Ferries, a ferry company which operates services between Southampton and the Isle of Wight. It involves the companies working in close collaboration to boost efficiency and reduce downtime whilst maintaining Red Funnel’s fleet of Raptor Class ferries.
The agreement, signed by Steve Jones, Managing Director Operations and Site Director at A&P Falmouth, and Mark Slawson, OBE, Operations Director at Red Funnel, will see three ferries dry dock in A&P Falmouth annually for three years. The agreement also has an option to be extended for an additional two years.
Red Funnel’s vehicle ferries, Red Falcon, Red Eagle and Red Osprey belong to the Raptor Class and have been visiting A&P Falmouth for dry dockings and repairs for the past five years, usually between October and February. The Raptor Class ro-pax ferries are the largest ferries ever to serve the Isle of Wight and make several crossings a day from Southampton.
The agreement will provide each vessel with a comprehensive pre-planning phase which includes assigning an A&P Programme Engineer to each project and a vessel visit from A&P and specialist subcontractors prior to the vessel refit period. By spending time onboard to clarify the full scope of work with Red Funnel’s superintendents, A&P Group’s Programme Engineer will be able to schedule works, procure equipment and communicate with nominated sub-contractors well ahead of time to minimise the refit period.
A&P Group’s pioneering commercial partnership agreements have been launched following the Group’s ongoing successful delivery of the Cluster Support Contracts with the Ministry of Defence for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s Argus and Bay Class. The contracts resulted in collaborative, joint working and seamless integration between the MoD and A&P Group, resulting in A&P Falmouth maintaining the highest level of vessel availability and increased real efficiencies for the fleet. A&P launched its commercial partnership scheme in 2015 and an increasing number of ferry companies such as Condor Ferries and Torpoint Ferries are now benefitting from the programme.
David McGinley, Managing Director of Atlantic and Peninsula Marine Services Ltd, said: “The ongoing success of our business is based on collaboration with all our customers and working in partnership with them.
“These commercial partnership agreements have a proven track record of completing projects on time and to budget and eliminating down time for our customers.”
Steve Jones, Managing Director Operations and Site Director at A&P Falmouth, added: “Our commercial partnership agreement scheme is proving very successful. It enables us to plan ahead and ensure our customers are getting the best possible service as efficiently as possible.”
Mark Slawson, OBE, Operations Director at Red Funnel, added: “We are delighted to be extending our commercial partnership with A&P Falmouth. We have worked with them for several years and they have provided us with an exceptional level of service for our three Raptor Class ferries - Red Falcon, Red Eagle and Red Osprey. As a long-standing ferry company, that runs 365 days a year, in all weather conditions, the maintenance carried out on our ferries are crucial to the operation of our business to ensure their longevity, reliability and safe service for our customers.”
Notes to Editors
A&P Group is a leading provider of ship repair, conversion and marine services and heavy engineering expertise. Operating seven dry docks and extensive fabrication facilities across four strategic locations in the UK, A&P Group also has a business in Australia that provides ship repair services and support to the Royal Australian Navy.
As one of the leading engineering business in the UK, A&P is also involved in a diverse range of fabrication and repair projects across a broad cross section of sectors including Defence, Marine, Oil and Gas, Subsea, Energy, Civil and Nuclear. Projects include the fabrication of built modules for the Astute Submarine Class and the prestigious HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carriers, cable carousels, flood barriers, steam turbines, shore side access systems and FPSO upgrades.
All A&P Group facilities combine a rich heritage of marine and engineering skills and experience, providing a diverse customer base with all the precision skills needed to complete the most demanding projects.
About Red Funnel
Red Funnel is the original Isle of Wight ferry company with roots tracing back to 1820. Based in the UK port of Southampton, Red Funnel carries 2.3m passengers and over 800,000 vehicles on its ferry route between the UK port of Southampton and East Cowes and 1.1m passengers between Southampton and West Cowes on its Red Jet Hi-Speed service. In addition to ferry travel, Red Funnel is the only cross-Solent operator to offer ferry inclusive bonded holiday accommodation, attraction tickets, festival and event tickets and activity packages. Sub-brands include ‘Red Jet’ (the Hi-Speed passenger only ferry service serving West Cowes) and two food & beverage brands, ‘Steam Coffee Company’ and ‘ReFuel’. The Company is a founder member of Visit Isle of Wight Ltd, the Island’s not for profit destination management organisation and Red Funnel sponsors or supports most of the Island’s premier events including the IW Festival, Cowes Week, Isle of Arts, The Red Funnel IW Literary Festival, IW Newport Jazz Festival, Isle Walk Festival, Ventnor Fringe Festival and Wolverton Manor Garden Show as well as a range of community and niche interest events. Red Funnel’s 2019 Charity of the Year is Mountbatten Hospice, Isle of Wight. For more information visit: www.redfunnel.co.uk