Norwegian Aker Yards to built the worlds largest cruise vessel

Royal Caribbean International orders a new generation cruise vessel from Aker Yards. The contract price being approximately EUR 900 million, this is the most valuable ship ever ordered in the history of commercial shipbuilding.

The 220,000 GRT ship, a prototype developed under Project Genesis, will be delivered from Aker Yards, Finland in autumn 2009. The order means 5,800 man years of work for the yard. The contract includes an option for a similar vessel.

"After developing so many generations of cruise ships together over the 35 years of our partnership with RCCL we are excited about jumping so far out in front of cruise-ship design with this highly innovative and exciting new ship" says Yrjö Julin, President responsible for Aker Yards Cruise & Ferries business area. "Working together we will create an unparalleled experience for the next generation of cruisers."

"It is exhilarating to take such a giant step into the future", said Royal Caribbean Chairman and CEO Richard Fain. "Project Genesis truly is a remarkable ship. Its bold design, daring innovation and technological advancements will delight our existing customers and help us draw in new ones". He also said Royal Caribbean to be fortunate to have such gifted collaborators as Aker Yards.

Taking a huge leap of 43 per cent in size from the new record breaking "Freedom of the Seas" to be delivered for Royal Caribbean from Aker Yards in April, the new giant of the cruise market will be 360 meters long, 47 meters wide, 65 m high above waterline and accommodate 5,400 passengers.

The previous deliveries from Aker Yards to Royal Caribbean include eleven newbuildings, and there are three more in the present orderbook, the world's largest cruise vessels in the Freedom class, to be delivered in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Consisting of 18 newbuildings, the total value of the order book of Aker Yards in Finland is some 4.3 billion euro after this contract. The contract is subject to final confirmation of buyers financing.

http://gfx.dagbladet.no/pub/artikkel/4/45/456/456982/nyaker_1a858ghdtr.jpg

they just keep on getting bigger and bigger these horizontal floating skyscrapers :runaway:

^ Yes they are. In april a new cruice ship, "Freedom of the Seas" will be born as the the largest in the world. The ship is now almost completed, and is also built by Aker Yards. The ship will room 5740 passangers, but is still 43% smaller than future largest ship.

Freedom of the Seas
http://www.dn.no/multimedia/archive/00080/LB-Freedom_of_the_Se_80280i.jpg

sick :D this is just huge and so expensive!

A great "instant skyline" for cities everywhere.

Wow, they qualify as highrises ;)

It would be cool to prop this thing on its end and make it into Scandinavia's tallest building. ;)

The ship will be built in Finland (like all the other Royal Caribbean's ships)

It will be built by Kvaerner Masa-Yards (finnish company);

"Kvaerner Masa-Yards is part of the joint shipyard management company of Aker Kvaerner and Aker RGI. With 16,500 employees and a turnover of approximately 2.5 billion Euro, Aker Kvaerner Yards is the largest shipbuilding company in Europe and the fourth largest worldwide."

That is one big ship... 43% larger than the Freedom. That would be over 225 000 tonnes. :drool:

Like Nice_Guy said: It's a portable skyline....