Southampton-based marine outfitting specialists Trimline have completed their biggest project of the year with the extensive refurbishment of P&O Portsmouth's newly introduced superferry, Pride of Cherbourg.

The company, based at its headquarters in Northam, is one of the best known in the south for its work on many of the ships using the port of Southampton.

The former Isle of Innisfree, which has replaced two smaller vessels on the Portsmouth-Cherbourg route, has undergone a complete refurbishment of her passenger facilities during dry docking at A&P's Falmouth yard.

Trimline carried out a full turnkey package extending from design through to installation and commissioning of new passenger facilities and amenity areas. This included work on lounges, bars, restaurants, cabins and other spaces.

Four new passenger lounges have been created on the ferry, which is the longest ship P&O has operated on the Cherbourg route. Among the lounges is a new Club Class seating area with the biggest area, the Oishin Lounge, accommodating 125 recliner seats. Trimline totally refurbished the rooms and also installed the new seating. The ship's aft bar was converted into an area with a luxury yacht image, including architectural sails, teak furniture and new flooring.

Trimline's on-site workforce was supported by the company's joinery and upholstery shops in its Southampton factory, with new furniture manufactured for several areas including 11 new cabins that were created from a space previously used as a lounge.

The ship's brasserie restaurant also underwent a major upgrade with new carpets, curtains and refurbished furniture. A new professional drivers' area was also created using partitioning and acid-etched glass in an existing restaurant area.

Trimline fitters laid some 3,000 square metres of new carpet during the refit with all three ship's bars benefiting from upgrades and extensive work completed on the children's play area and the retail outlet.

Trimline managing director Gary Oliver said: "We have carried out work for P&O Portsmouth for several years and we know the design and decor that is appreciated by passengers using the Portsmouth cross-Channel routes.

"We were able to draw upon that experience to work closely with P&O in creating a high quality addition to the Portsmouth fleet.''