seatec - Finnish marine technology review 1/2009 | Page 19

Photo: Meyer Werft GmbH With its “Celebrity Solstice” Meyer Werft set new standards in cruise ship energy efficiency. to that of the 2001-built “Radiance of the bring Meyer Werft into the epicentre of of the hull accommodates the crew quar- Seas”, a ship which is about 30% smaller. public interest this spring. AIDA Cruises, ters and the engine, while the forward, A diversified approach helped to achieve which is an extremely popular cruise brand 110 metres long section houses all pas- this impressive result, including mainly op- on the German market, turns its delivery senger facilities. Advantages of this design timised hydrodynamics through a new hull voyages down Ems river into a big hap- is a very high passenger comfort without form, but also optimisations to the ship’s pening attracting thousands of spectators any noise and vibration as well as the abil- lighting, to the propulsion, to the evapo- and extensive media interest. Somewhat ity to enter even small locks by disconnect- rators producing potable water, etc. Mey- smaller – but by no means less innovative – ing the two hulls (which reduces the ‘Twin- er’s cruise ship order book is very well filled are the river cruise vessels built by Neptun Cruiser’s’ overall length. So far Neptun has for the next few years, comprising four sis- Werft GmbH, an affiliate of Meyer Werft delivered six ships of this design, includ- ter ships of the “Celebrity Solstice” (out within the Meyer Neptun Group. Neptun ing ultimately the 106-passengers “Premi- of which the first, “Celebrity Equinox”, has successfully specialised on river cruise con Queen” in June 2008. Currently Nep- is scheduled for delivery in early autumn ships, and as its so far biggest innovation tun Werft is working on a contract for two 2009), four club cruise vessels for AIDA launched the patented ‘TwinCruiser’ de- conventional river cruise ships for German Cruises, and t ݼ