Keel laying of TUI Cruises Mein Schiff 5 and start of production for Mein Schiff 6 at Meyer Turku

Mein Schiff 5 keel laying

The production of the cruise ship Mein Schiff 6 was officially launched when TUI Cruises CEO Wybcke Meyer started the plasma cutting machine in the production hall of Meyer Turku shipyard. Another important event was also celebrated at the shipyard on the same day, as the next milestone in the building process of the Mein Schiff 5 took place. The hull construction of the Mein Schiff 5 began by lowering the keel block into the shipyard''s drydock. Following old traditions of the shipyard in this event some coins were placed under the keel block to bring luck for the ship. Representatives of TUI Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Meyer Turku and the classification society Det Norske Veritas, invited guests, and members of the press joined these events.

Mein Schiff 5 and Mein Schiff 6 will be delivered in 2016 and 2017. Like their sister ships (Mein Schiff 3 and Mein Schiff 4), they will be approximately 294 meters long, have 15 decks with around 1,253 staterooms and the capacity to carry approximately 2,506 passengers. 90 percent of the cabins are outside cabins and 82 percent have a balcony. Both ships are being constructed to the latest technological standards using innovative and environmentally-friendly technologies. They are especially energy-efficient and consume around 30 percent less energy than comparable cruise liners. Thanks to the advanced exhaust cleaning system that uses a scrubber and catalytic converter, sulphur emissions can be reduced by approximately 99 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by around 75 percent.

“This growth presents us with the opportunity to further strengthen our position with one of the most modern fleets on the German market. With six ships in the medium term, we are aiming at a market share in excess of 25 percent,” says Wybcke Meier, TUI Cruises'' CEO.

“The construction of a ship is for the shipyard a great team effort in which we work closely with our customers and subcontractors. For such a big and custom-designed project brought to reality by so many contributors with their effort and skilled work, it is a nice tradition that we pause and appreciate the moment when the hardware part of the construction of a new ship is actually starting – as for Mein Schiff 6 today. We are also happy that we are in schedule with Mein Schiff 5 and can celebrate the keel laying for Mein Schiff 5 as planned today,” says Jan Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku Oy.