Focusing on two areas, the large Main Ballroom and the more intimate View Bar and Restaurant, the Point Source Productions team carried out necessary ad hoc repairs to the venues' lighting and control equipment whilst the ship was taking passengers on board at Southampton. The team's organisation and sympathetic approach ensured they completed the work without affecting the smooth workings of the ship. This was followed by a complete service of lighting equipment in both venues and the installation of architectural systems in the shop and Lido Restaurant when the Saga Ruby went into dry dock in Hamburg in December.
The Main Ballroom, which has played host to the likes of Katherine Jenkins and Neil Sedaka, has a rig comprised of six Martin MAC 550, 14 Martin MAC 300, and four Martin MAC 250 Entours, along side a rig of 40 generic tungsten fixtures, all controlled by an Avolites Pearl.
The View Bar and Restaurant, so named because of fabulous uninterrupted view from ship's stern, sports four Martin MX10, two Martin CX4 and 16 Pulsar ChromaDomes which come into operation on the lively dance nights and a generic tungsten system for the more sedate jazz band evenings. All is controlled by a Pulsar Masterpiece through a Mode architectural control and dimming system.
"We were very happy to have brought all this equipment back into full working order and with as little inconvenience to the Saga Ruby team and their customers as possible," says Point Source Productions managing director, Stephen Capel. "Schedules are often very time specific and we try to be as flexible as possible to meet the customer's needs at a time and place that works for them."
Saga has now requested Point Source Productions to perform a schedule of routine maintenance on Ruby's entertainment lighting to dispense with the need for emergency repairs.
"With our maintenance department we can supply a dedicated team of skilled technicians who are fully conversant with the workings of the most up to date equipment, both in the repair shop and in the field," continues Capel. "We find the regular maintenance contracts we offer alongside emergency repairs can really take the pressure off our customers and give them peace of mind."
(Jim Evans)
