German company becomes the first shipyard in the world to secure a newbuild order since the pandemic
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Japanese operator NYK Cruises has contracted Meyer Werft to construct an LNG-powered cruise ship, making the Germany shipbuilder the first shipyard in the world to receive a newbuild order since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
To be constructed at Meyer Werft’s site in Papenburg, the 51,950gt vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2025 and will be able to accommodate 744 guests and 470 crew members.
The luxury vessel was designed by Meyer Werft, with the entire design and negotiation process being conducted via video conferences with NYK Cruises. Design highlights will include onboard facilities tailored to suit the needs and preferences of Japanese guests, as well as an innovative air-conditioning systems and contactless controls to help minimise the spread of viruses. In addition, Meyer Werft will implement a hydrodynamics optimised for the vessel’s planned routes.
"We have been able to win our new customer from Japan in this extremely difficult global market situation and worldwide competition with the best ship concept, innovations, quality and a very challenging price for us,” said Jan Meyer, managing director of Meyer Werft. “My thanks go to the entire staff and especially to the sales and design department, which has done a great job in this tense phase. This is the first order in the shipyard's 226-year history where all contract documents and plans were prepared and negotiated via video conferencing. The effort has paid off.”
According to Meyer Werft, NYK Cruises’ order is a “very important step” in securing the future of its Papenburg yard in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The yard, which is designed to produce 420,000gt of tonnage annually, now has two ships with a collective tonnage of 182,000gt scheduled for delivery in 2025.
"The current newbuilding order is not a turnaround from our difficult situation; in Papenburg we are designed for the series production of very large cruise ships," said Meyer. "Now we are building the prototype of a small ship without the option of sister ships. Therefore, it is to be classified as another step among many necessary measures. At the same time, it is also a positive signal: it is a completely new customer for Meyer Werft, we have asserted ourselves on a global market against global competition."