Testbank, a Southampton ship repairer has completed a 1 million GBP refit of megayacht SENSES. The 59.20m (194′ 2″) motor yacht SENSES spent 3 months at the Testbank Ship yard. Most of the refit was done at ship repair facility in Portsmouth’s historic harbour using a 1,000 tonne Rolls Royce syncrolift, one of the biggest of its kind in the South of England. Trials were completed at Southampton Docks.
Superyacht Senses refit
There were up to 30 Testbank staff invoved with the refit work at any given time, led by Technical Director Brian Needle and Works Manager Steve Beck. The team replaced fittings and made repairs to caulking and teak deck boards which were sanded down, refilled and repainted while every corroded feature including a black water tank was renewed.
“It is without doubt the biggest yacht we have ever worked on at Portsmouth harbour. The skipper and the owners’ representative were over the moon with both the facility and the Testbank staff and were delighted that everything went so well.” Testbank Managing Director Jason Coltman said.
Director of Testbank Jason Coltman and Brian Needle
Testbank have had a busy year since they reopened the ship lift facility on the Portchester waterside after five years of decommissioning. A total of 35 yachts have so far been hoisted starting with the Serco Denholm cargo ship Teesdale in June 2009. Led by Managing Director Jonny Boys, The Trafalgar Wharf company has been developing the ex-Vosper Thornycroft site over the past 2 years aiming to create a world-class marine centre, while promoting the ship lift for refitting and repairing superyachts, pilot boats, tugs, commercial ferries and naval vessels. The company has a £7m turnover and employs 65 permanent staff.
Testbank will exhibit at the Seawork 2010 International expo and conference at the ABP Port of Southampton from 15 to 17 June.
Contact the CharterWorld for information, availability and rates of the mega yacht SENSES which will be chartering in the Baltic and Western Mediterranean this summer season.
