(From left to right) Bernard Meyer, Managing Director of Meyer Werft, Andy Stuart, President and Chief Operating Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line, and Christer Karlsson, Senior Vice President of New Build at Norwegian Cruise Line, pressed the button to begin cutting the first steel plate for the company's next ship
In a historic week for new construction at Norwegian Cruise Line, the first steel plate was cut on Tuesday, September 15, at the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, thus beginning construction of the company's second Breakaway Plus class ship, scheduled for delivery in spring 2017.
Andy Stuart, President and Chief Operating Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line, pressed the button on the plasma torch during the first plaque cutting ceremony at the shipyard facility.
“On behalf of the more than 20,000 Norwegian Cruise Line team members around the world, we are thrilled to mark the start of construction on the company’s second Breakaway Plus-class ship and to continue the evolution of the Norwegian Cruise Line brand,” said Stuart. “This ship will not only embody the essence of the Norwegian brand and the freedom and flexibility that characterize a Norwegian Cruise Line vacation, but also the combined expertise of the company’s new leadership team, which will create what is sure to be the epitome of contemporary cruising.”
Executives from Norwegian Cruise Line, along with Bernard Meyer and Lambert Kruse, managing directors of the shipyard, and Stephan Schmees, the shipyard's project coordinator, were present to watch the first steel plate being cut with a plasma torch at the shipyard's modern facilities. This plate will form part of block 46 of the new ship.
“We are very pleased to be building this new class of ships for Norwegian Cruise Line and to continue our long-standing relationship,” said Bernard Meyer, Managing Partner of the Meyer shipyard.
With a gross tonnage of 165,600 and a capacity for 4,200 passengers, the ship has a length of more than 300 meters and will reach a speed of up to 23 knots.
