Onlookers in Papenburg
Cruise giant “Silver Ray” undocked
February 25, 2024, 5:11 p.m
Listen to article
This audio version was artificially generated. More info | Send feedback
It’s always an event: When the gates to the shipbuilding hall at the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg open and a new ocean liner is pulled out, numerous onlookers come. They now got to see the 240 meter long “Silver Ray”.
With the “Silver Ray”, a new cruise ship from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg is nearing completion. In the late morning, the 240 meter long and 30 meter wide ocean liner left the shipbuilding hall and was taken to the shipyard port. Some onlookers also watched the undocking. The target date for the transfer over the Ems is April 7th.
The cruise ship can accommodate 728 passengers. The sister ship, the “Silver Nova”, was delivered to the shipping company Silversea Cruises last summer. On board the ship there are, among other things, eight restaurants, several bars and lounges, a casino and a fitness center.
The “Silver Ray” has a hybrid drive that uses liquefied natural gas (LNG) as well as fuel cells and batteries. This should make emission-free operation possible in the port.
Due to the lull in orders as a result of the corona pandemic, Meyer Werft has had to extend its orders in consultation with the shipping companies in recent years. However, a new order was recently successfully acquired: in mid-February, the shipyard announced the construction of another cruise ship for Carnival Cruise Line. The LNG-powered sister ship of the “Carnival Jubilee”, which was delivered in 2023, is scheduled to be handed over in 2027 and will offer space for more than 6,400 guests.
The Emsland shipbuilders’ order book includes five cruise ships, a research ship and the steel construction for four offshore converter platforms. This means that the jobs for the approximately 3,000 shipyard employees as well as the numerous suppliers and service providers in the region have become a little safer again.