Royal Caribbean orders a giant cruise vessel from Aker Yards

Royal Caribbean International orders a new generation cruise vessel from Aker Yards.
The contract price being approximately EUR 900 million, this is the most valuable ship ever ordered in the history of commercial shipbuilding.

The 220,000 GRT ship, a prototype developed under Project Genesis, will be delivered from Aker Yards, Finland in autumn 2009. The order means 5,800 man years of work for the yard.
The contract includes an option for a similar vessel.

“After developing so many generations of cruise ships together over the 35 years of our partnership with RCCL we are excited about jumping so far out in front of cruise-ship design with this highly innovative and exciting new ship” says Yrjö Julin, President responsible for Aker Yards Cruise & Ferries business area. “Working together we will create an unparalleled experience for the next generation of cruisers.”

“It is exhilarating to take such a giant step into the future”, said Royal Caribbean Chairman and CEO Richard Fain. “Project Genesis truly is a remarkable ship. Its bold design, daring innovation and technological advancements will delight our existing customers and help us draw in new ones”. He also said Royal Caribbean to be fortunate to have such gifted collaborators as Aker Yards.

Taking a huge leap of 43 per cent in size from the new record breaking “Freedom of the Seas” to be delivered for Royal Caribbean from Aker Yards in April, the new giant of the cruise market will be 360 meters long, 47 meters wide, 65 m high above waterline and accommodate 5,400 passengers.

The previous deliveries from Aker Yards to Royal Caribbean include eleven newbuildings, and there are three more in the present orderbook, the world’s largest cruise vessels in the Freedom class, to be delivered in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Consisting of 18 newbuildings, the total value of the order book of Aker Yards in Finland is some 4.3 billion euro after this contract.

The contract is subject to final confirmation of buyers financing.

Please find attached an illustration of the vessel.

A side view of the vessel can also be found in our imagebank www.akerfinnyards.com , Newsroom / Image bank / Cruise vessels

Aker Yards ASA is an international shipbuilding group focusing on sophisticated vessels. The group has a strong position both in terms of innovation, product range, technology, experience and capacity. The product range includes cruise vessels & ferries, merchant vessels, offshore & specialized vessels. Aker Yards, with an annual turnover of euro 2 bn, comprises 13 yards in Norway, Finland, Germany, Romania and Brazil and has approximately 13,000 employees. In Finland Aker Yards has three yards: in Turku, Helsinki and Rauma.
www.akeryards.com

Aker Yards is part of the Aker Group (www.akerasa.com), a leading multi-industry powerhouse with more than 40,000 employees and EUR 7.5 billion revenues. Aker owns 55.6 per cent of Aker Yards, and the group is also a significant participant in the oil & gas business as well as the fisheries industry.

Contact Information

Tore Langballe

SVP Communications and IR

Aker Yards ASA

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