A cruise ship and ferry outfitting firm based in Co. Down will announce today in Belfast Harbour that it has secured £120 million (€139m) of new work to fit out cruise ships.

The firm MJM Marine located in Newry, said the increase in business across a range of global clients including major cruise operators, will create more than 100 jobs.

The firm which this year celebrates its 40th anniverary, said that the new positions will increase the firm's workforce in the region of 300 people.

MJM will make the announcement in Belfast Harbour on board the 130,818 gross tonnage cruise ship, Celebrity Apex. The 2,910 (double occupancy) passenger cruiseship which is a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Rated resort at sea, had sailed overnight from Liverpool.

Celebrity Apex is the second of the ‘Edge’ series cruise ships operated by Celebrity Cruises, which is a brand within the Royal Caribbean Group and is one of MJM Marine's trade partners.

The order book for MJM reaches across seven of the world's leading brands, with delivery taking place in locations across the world including Singapore, across Europe and to the Bahamas.

RTE News has more on the multi-million pound contract. 

Recent works Afloat adds of MJM Marine clients include Silversea’s Silver Wind, Carnival’s Radiance, Royal Caribbean International’s Wonder of the Seas and Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection’s inaugural vessel, Evrima.

Last year and again this season, Azamara Pursuit made a cruise visit to Warrenpoint Port, Co. Down where the MJM Marine headquarters is located in the Carnebane Bussiness Park, Newry, which was awarded a project to fit-out the 800 passenger cruise ship.

The work which was carried out had regional ties, as the Azamara Journey in 2018 docked at Harland & Wolff, Belfast which was then the largest ship of its kind to have a refit at the shipyard facility.