Croft Filters Ltd were recently approached to manufacture special oil filters for a 25,000 ton vessel that was scheduled for a 190 night world cruise and had encountered engine technical problems..
UK based Saga Cruises recently announced that their 40 year old SAGA RUBY – the last cruise ship built in the UK will retire in early 2014. The 661 passenger vessel docked at Southampton whilst repairs were carried out to the crankshaft on the Sulzer 24,000 bhp engines.
The oil filters were needed urgently so Saga's Technical Superintendent Mr Greg Hale visited Croft to discuss their requirements and specifications, and after negotiations Croft were given the order to supply 30 Candle filters within a tight deadline.
The filters were constructed as per Saga's sample using a strong stainless steel support cage lined with 2 layers of mesh, and most importantly special end caps that another supplier had been having difficulty with. 10 filters were collected by Saga and sent to the Falklands where Saga Ruby would dock whilst on the world cruise and the remainder were despatched to Southampton soon after. Greg Hale commented "Croft filters were exemplary in their response to Saga's requirements, the quote was returned and the order was placed before I left Warrington."
Saga Ruby set sail on February 20th and has already visited Gran Canaria, Tenerife, The Falklands, Argentina, Brazil, Cape Verde, Senegal and currently Cape Town.
Neil Burns Croft Director said "Croft are delighted that our filters have helped the Saga Ruby set sail. Having already supplied to countries globally it's fantastic for our team to know that the products that they manufactured here in the UK are now travelling around the world!"
