Miami-based cruise line operator Royal Car[ds_preview]ibbean Cruises and Finnish subsidiary of German Meyer Werft, Meyer Turku, agreed on a newbuilding contract for two cruise liners.
Today, the companies announced the signing of a memorandum of agreement for two vessels to be delivered in 2022 and 2024. »The around 200,000 gross ton large cruise ships under the project name »Icon« will mark the beginning of a new generation of LNG powered cruise ships with a number of innovations such as an application of fuel cells for power generation. Fuel cells are a very energy efficient and clean way to generate electrical energy«, they said.
»Our partnership with RCL has created a number of groundbreaking ships such as Oasis, Celebrity Solstice, Quantum and Mein Schiff. We are grateful that Royal Caribbean engages with us in a new challenging journey to advance the state of maritime technology with a new class of cruise ships. Our common aim is to develop fuel cells to a level that allows their usage in a significant application to power the ship‘s hotel functions.«, outlines Jan Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku Oy.
However, today’s technology and the regulations are not yet ready for maritime fuel cell use, it was added. Therefore various pilot installations on other Meyer-built RCL ships will be the stepping stones on the way to a fuel cell installation on Icon.
With the new orders, Meyer Turku shipyard will increase its output until 2024 substantially beyond Turku yard’s all-time-high work load during Oasis/Allure times in 2007 – 2009. »The eight year long horizon creates a unique opportunity for Turku shipyard and the entire Finnish maritime cluster to invest and develop their capabilities with a long-term strategy and achieve new leaps in technology«, Meyer Turku added.
Just recently the shipyard group have announced an order of cruise giant Carnival Corp. with three vessels to be built at all three locations of the shipyard group.
