On Thursday 18th May, South Devon UTC Engineering students visited Princess Yachts in Plymouth, one of the leading British luxury yacht manufacturers, to look at the production facilities including; the metal shop, furniture production and moulding processes. Students were shown one of the largest yachts under construction which has yet to be fitted with the deck, to look inside the vessel at the interior bulkheads and partitions.

In one of the other large buildings, students observed how traditional hand crafts, along with computer numerical control machines, operated by computers, execute pre-programmed sequences of controlled commands (CNC), which is used for cutting and shaping the wooden parts.

Students also visited the training centre where apprentices and new staff learn the skills they need to help build some of the most technically-advanced luxury yachts in the world.

This was a great opportunity for our engineering students and we look forward to returning in the very near future to see some of the finished vessels.