SD Marine Interiors

MARINE INTERIOR SPECIALIST EYES NEW HORIZONS

Since 2019, SD Marine Interiors has established itself as an outfitting and cosmetic repair specialist in the cruise line industry. In newly appointed Managing Director Simon Dawkins, the company is looking to move to the next level while keeping a firm steer on deepening its sustainability commitments. Report by Andy Probert.

SD Marine interiors Managing Director, Simon Dawkins

SDMarine Interiors is presently riding the crest of a wave, executing projects for major brand-name clients across the cruise line industry. In little more than four years, it has asserted its skills in the outfitting and cosmetic repairs niche, from projects at dry docks to those on water.

The arrival of Simon Dawkins as Managing Director in 2023 represents a statement of intent to take the division of the UK-based SD Group to new heights and propel its sustainable methods in the marine interior niche.

“I’m eager to explore new opportunities within the cruise sector and for us to take as green an approach as possible,” said Mr Dawkins. “Everybody wants a more sustainable future, and I’m keen to make that a top priority for the business and for cruise operators. Exciting times certainly lie ahead.”

Global and reliable

SD Marine can draw on the experience of over 200 sealant applicators, decorators and cosmetic repair specialists that serve the SD group of companies with distinction in its land-based projects in the construction sector.

SD was established as a family-run business in 1973, initially specialising in the supply and fit of sealants. Based

in Caldicot, South Wales, the group has grown to become one of the largest sealant specialists in the UK, with nine offices and seven distribution centres across the country.

Having added cosmetic repairs to its portfolio in 2013, SD Marine Interiors was launched in 2019 to bring its outfitting and cosmetic repairs expertise to the marine industry.

“We quickly established a reputation for reliability and efficiency,” said Mr Dawkins, “with a passion for providing the best service for our clients.” Its marine team has decades of experience in ship interiors and offers turnkey refitting for cruise ships, ferries and all passenger ships, maintaining and upgrading vessels in service and during regular dry dockings.

“As we do shoreside, we have invested a lot of time on cruise ships, looking carefully at all parts of the interior, recognising where damage can occur and then developing our own methods and materials for the appropriate repair,” he added Scratched and chipped furniture, broken stone tops, chipped tiling and sanitary ware - there is nowhere that SD Marine’s teams cannot implement a robust, aesthetically beautiful and long-lasting repair.

Key appointment

With significant clients onboard, the marine interiors division is poised to step up its presence and reputation in the sector, with Mr Dawkins’ appointment an indicator of things to come.

He reflected on his new role: “I am bringing my deep knowledge, contacts and

management experience from my previous positions in the sector. SD Marine has made progress in the last four years, and I have a two-pronged growth plan to drive the company forward.”

One side is fulfilling the cosmetic repair offering. This is already underpinned by the company’s desire to see all its specialists trained in-house and to extend their knowledge and experience in the niche.

“They are trained in all aspects of repair, and I want to make that best in class in the industry and push it out further into the marine industry,” Mr Dawkins explained. “There’s a lot of contacts and potential project opportunities that I can bring to SD.

“Our teams, usually four to six people in number, travel all over the world. A team has just concluded a big project in Panama, and another will be heading out on a trip to

Europe shortly. SD Marine has built up its offering, and I hope to expand on that by bringing in new clientele.”

On the outfitting front, such as interior construction of cabins, bars, restaurants and refurbishments, Mr Dawkins will seek to increase SD’s exposure: “Post-Covid, the market has stabilised, and companies want to start outfitting their ships more, bringing them up to modern standards.

More opportunities will begin to arise, and our experienced team is poised to tackle any outfitting project.”

Green shoots of sustainability

The company is also taking strides to deliver on sustainability initiatives and responding to the challenge from within the industry, according to Mr Dawkins: “To me, sustainability is not simply a buzzword. It is an ethos, and I want to implement initiatives as we grow. There are many small things that we can do as an outfitter.”

These include looking at best practices, s uch as replacing plastic tubes with foil

sausages for our sealant and adhesive applications, which offers 96% waste reduction. “From the outset, I want to be able to look at alternative products,” he said. “It is one small step for us, and the industry can follow us. I will look at all the products we use, the processes and how to reduce waste.”

SD Marine has also signed a sustainability declaration for marine interiors. “For me, the aim is two-fold: take the smaller steps we can as a company and also see what the wider group and industry can do to reduce carbon footprint,” Mr Dawkins added. “The ethos is always to reduce

waste; repair, don’t replace. Whereas previously a worktop, furniture or a broken basin would be replaced, we now look to repair.”

He explained that having inherited SD’s customer base, the division was already talking with several clients on potential projects in the cruise line sector that were coming through: “That includes various works while ships are within the dry dock and cosmetic repair even when a cruise ship is in operation.”

SD Group plans to expand into mainland Europe to offer land- and sea-based projects and recruit European staff. “We are looking to step up a gear, as there is plenty of work out there,” Mr Dawkins continued. “We have just recruited a new Project Manager who brings a lot of knowledge

into what is already an experienced team at SD.

“We have built up a lot of trust with clients, and if you do a job well, they are more than likely to stick with you on the next project. We are constantly building those relationships in the market. That also applies to our suppliers. Trust, integrity, and transparency are very important to all industry stakeholders.

“I envisage 2025 could be a busy year for the cruise industry as companies want to modernise their ships,” Mr Dawkins concluded. “I think there is healthy competition in our sector, but that pushes us to achieve the best standards the industry consistently upholds. SD Marine is primed to kick on and grow further. I hope it marks a new chapter in the company’s development.” n