seatec - Finnish marine technology review 1/2008 | Page 10

Photos: Aker Yards / Jouni Saaristo NB-1363 Genesis I, start of production on March 1, 2007. ”T he delivery of the first vessel ing innovation and technological advance- ing from the size to the complexity of the will take place in the fall 2009, ments, the Genesis-class vessels will be a numerous technical innovations. with the ‘test drive’ scheduled for sum- true wonder to behold. Julin also remarked that the word mer 2009,” confirms Toivo Ilvonen, Vice Both cruise ships will be 47 metres “breathtaking” might be an understate- President, Projects, for Aker Yards. Ilvonen wide and 360 metres long; height over the ment as well – these seafaring giants will serves also as the Project Manager for the water line will be 65 metres. Each ship is be 36 metres longer than the height of Genesis-class project. built to accommodate the needs of 5,400 Eiffel tower, weighing 12 times more than passengers and feature as many as 3,000 the Parisian pride. Juha Heikinheimo, Pres- crew members. ident of Aker Yards’ business area Cruise How to describe the sheer size of these luxury cruise ships? “Colossal” and & Ferries and President of Aker Yards in “overwhelming” are the first terms that spring to mind. Aker Yards is convinced CHALLENGE LIKE NO OTHER Finland, has characterised the project as that with these two vessels the compa- Yrjö Julin, President & CEO of Aker Yards, a “two billion euro assignment” which is ny is now taking an enormous step into has commented that Genesis is a big chal- a real tour de force for the Finnish ma- the future - combining bold design, dar- lenge for the company, with issues rang- rine industries. 8 seatec 2008