The cruise ship Odyssey of the Seas will set off on an extensive sea trial on Sunday evening, 14 March. The program includes technical and nautical trials on the North Sea. In the past few days, more people as well as necessary material have come on board. The new cruise ship is expected back in Bremerhaven after the test program has been completed. In the meantime, the final interior work is underway on board to deliver the Odyssey of the Seas to the shipping company in a few weeks. The mood on board is good and the teams from the shipyard, suppliers as well as the shipping company and the classification society are working hand in hand to ensure the successful completion of the ship.
"Odyssey of the Seas will be the third cruise ship we deliver during the pandemic. This is a tremendous achievement that is only possible due to the far-sighted and responsible actions of all people at the shipyard and on board," says Thomas Weigend, Managing Director of MEYER WERFT. "The current situation shows how important it is to act quickly and transparently. We have prevented the virus from spreading and can therefore now start the sea trial. All of us on board are glad that we can now take this important step. With the experience gained in the last few days, we are now even better positioned to counter the virus," explains project manager Thorsten Kroes.
The safety concept with extensive protective measures on board includes, among other things, a task force to provide support on board in order to work out and implement further measures at short notice. The aim is to reduce the number of contacts even further.
Antigen testing of the several hundred people on board continues to take place daily. New persons are only allowed on board if they can present a PCR test that is not older than 48 hours. All persons are required to strictly observe hygiene measures and distances on board and to reduce contacts to an absolute minimum. The shipyard, its suppliers and the shipping company work very closely and intensively with the authorities in Bremerhaven.