UB 200 ANALYSIS
33 - MJM Marine
A
s one of Northern Ireland's fastest growing firms MJM Marine has grown its reach across an array of different sectors. MJM Marine is MJM Group's main business, based in Newry, and headed by founder Brian McConville. It was set up in 1983 by Mr McConville, and carries out work for many of the world's top cruise liners, including Star Cruises. The fit-out specialist is seldom out of the headlines, whether it's landed new contracts or winning awards. The company has diversified and grown in influence, with Mr McConville one of just two Northern Ireland business leaders joining Prime Minister Theresa May on an international trade mission to China. And MJM's contract with Royal Caribbean Cruises and Azamara Cruises will see it bring the first ever cruise ship to Belfast to drydock in April.
Brian and Naoimh McConville of MJM Marine
In 2016, Mr McConville was named Businessperson of the Year in the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards.
The group has also diversified into property investment, and was behind a major transaction in 2016, taking on Newry’s Damolly Retail Park.
MJM Marine, by chief executive Gary Annett and chairman Brian McConville, was then named Overall Business of the Year at the awards a year later.
The group also bought fit-out business Mivan in 2014.
MJM Marine also triumphed in the Excellence in Export category. The group company also operates a specialist joinery division also provides a growing service to land-based commercial and private clients. One of the company’s most prestigious contracts involved Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. More recently MJM was the lead outfitting contractor aboard Norwegian Cruise Line vessels Pearl & Jade in Freeport Bahamas.
APRIL 2018
This year, the company has announced it's bringing in key luxury cruise ship The Azamara for refit in Harland & Wolff - a world first as fit-out companies usually travel to cruise ships, instead of a cruise ship coming to the fit-out firm.
"This is the first time any company within Royal Caribbean Cruises has used a UK shipyard for refit works of this scale and MJM is delighted to have been able to bring the vessel to Belfast for its revitalisation." The group has also bought the former Ballykelly Army and RAF base in Co Londonderry.
In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, MJM's Naoimh McConville, said:
MJM is also hoping that its work on the Ballykelly site will attract Heathrow Airport, which has put the site on a shortlist of possible locations for a hub outside London, in the event that it gets the go-ahead for a third runway.
"Azamara will take delivery of the ship this March in the Caribbean. The vessel will then reposition to Belfast for a four-month refit period under the guidance of MJM, where it will become the Azamara Pursuit, the third ship in the company's boutique-ship fleet.
And further afield, it has secured its first ever drydock works in China. The seven-figure deal with Star Cruises involved carrying out works on five decks of the Star Pisces, including the transformation of casinos, restaurants and shops. ■
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