seatec - Finnish marine technology review 1/2008 | Page 14

Royal Caribbean’s Chairman and CEO Richard Fain placing his Genesis lucky coin. The latest marvel upon the waves was Lib- cleared the most critical phase of assem- marine cluster which supports the realisa- erty of the Seas which sailed in the spring bly in November, Ilvonen was assigned to tion of world-record projects. of 2007. Liberty of the Seas was the sec- the Genesis Project. Ilvonen admits that “The development which has led to ond in the series of the world’s largest – taking the reigns of a giant project which the present situation started already in the for the time being, that is – Freedom-class had started, in a way, 20 months earlier 1980’s, so one could say that it took many cruise vessels. was bit of a challenge. – albeit small – steps to get where we are The third Freedom-class ship, Independence of the Seas, is presently receiv- “There ha