By
Rebecca Gibson |
STX Finland laid the keel of TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 4 at its Turku shipyard on 25 February 2014.
Held around nine months after the keel-laying ceremony of sister ship Mein Schiff 3, the ceremony was attended by various TUI Cruises’ representatives including CEO Richard Vogel, CFO Frank Kuhlmann, chief engineer of Mein Schiff 3 Kostas Kallinikos and Mein Schiff 3’s captain Kjell Holm. The shipyard was represented by deputy CEO Jari Anttila, COO Tapani Pulli, project director Toivo Ilvonen and project manager of Mein Schiff 3 and Mein Schiff 4 Sisko Hellgren. In addition, classification Society Det Norske Veritas was represented by principal surveyor Pekka Toija.
According to shipbuilding tradition, lucky coins were placed under the ship’s keel, which is the first fully assembled part of the ship. The keel – which measures around 19 metres in length and width, and weighs around 390 tonnes – is the first of many separate blocks that will be welded together in the yard’s building dock.
“We are very pleased to see the first block of Mein Schiff 4 to be laid down exactly as planned,” said Anttila, deputy CEO of STX Finland. “The building periods of Mein Schiff 3 and Mein Schiff 4 are record-breaking tight and we are proud to be able to meet all the expectations. These ships represent the leading edge of development in environmentally friendly feature.”
Both Mein Schiff 3 and Mein Schiff 4 will feature environmentally friendly technology, such as a combined exhaust gas treatment system, enabling each vessel to consume around 30% less energy compared to cruise ships of similar sizes.
"With the keel-laying of Mein Schiff 4, we are proceeding in our expansion of our well-being fleet,” said Vogel. “From 12 March 2014, the first journeys on Mein Schiff 4 can be booked. Then, with four ships and a total capacity of approximately 9,000 beds, we are in an even better position to satisfy the wishes of our guests.”
Mein Schiff 4 is scheduled for delivery in spring 2015.