Delivery in 2005 and 2006

Papenburg, 22.09.2003 - The cruise operator Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), a subsidiary of Star Cruises (Malaysia), has signed two contracts with MEYER WERFT for new cruise liners. The contracts are supposed to be implemented by the end of September 2003. The approx. 93,000-gt ships are advanced repeat vessels of Norwegian Star and Norwegian Dawn which were delivered to NCL in 2001 and 2002. Delivery of the new ships will take place in mid 2005 and mid 2006. The two panmax newbuildings have a length overall of 294 metres and a moulded breadth of 32.2 metres. 2,669 passengers can be accommodated in 1,188 cabins. Over and above this, the vessels will feature many technical innovations, new interior designs and also new design aspects in the outer appearance. These new-generation vessels will perform a speed of 25 knots, and will be equipped with state-of-the-art azipod propulsion systems. The shipyard has invested plenty of work and enormous efforts in order to present the customer first-rate designs and conditions. "The contracts for the two newbuildings have a signalling effect both on the yard and on the market," as Bernard Meyer puts it. However, these new contracts do not avoid the planned personnel reduction at the shipyard; an adjustment of personnel capacity remains indispensable. Still the new orders will be a significant help for cutting back the underemployment of the remaining staff of roughly 2,000. Meanwhile Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (USA) has announced that it will not place contracts for vessels number five and six of the Radiance class. This has certainly caused regrets in Papenburg that the ships will presently not be built for Royal Caribbean. On the other hand, the way is paved now for the NCL ships and for other newbuilding projects. More Information : www.ncl.com Photos: www.ncl.com/hires/