Huge cruise liner takes to water

Last Modified: 15 Sep 2007
Source: PA News

The biggest cruise liner ever to be based in Britain has taken to the water for the first time at the Finnish shipyard where she is being built.

The sluice gates in the enormous dry dock at the Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Turku were opened to float out the 160,000-tonne Independence of the Seas. It will take several days to fill the dock and float her.

The £400 million ship will be based in Southampton when she enters service in May next year.

At the moment she is two thirds finished and on schedule with around 2,500 workers employed in the yard, the shipbuilder said.

The vessel will be the joint biggest cruise liner in the world along with her sister ships Liberty of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas, which are already in service.

The owners of all three, Royal Caribbean International, said the choice of Southampton was the first time in the company's history that a new-build ship has operated its inaugural season in Europe.

The 1,112ft-long liner, which can carry 4,375 guests and more than 1,000 crew, is bigger by 8,400 gross registered tonnes than Cunard's Queen Mary 2 - also based in Southampton.

The placing of the ship in Britain is an indication of the booming cruise market in the UK and Europe and the fierce competition between operators for a share of passengers. Figures from the Passenger Shipping Association show 1.35 million Britons are expected to take a cruise holiday in 2007.

The vessel has 15 passenger decks and is longer than three football pitches. Facilities onboard include a surf simulator generating waves at 20 mph, rock climbing wall, ice skating rink and children's water park, as well as the more traditional casino and spas. Its main dining area can seat 2,000 passengers over three floors.

But its reign as the biggest liner in the world will soon be usurped. Royal Caribbean is constructing a 220,000 tonne ship in the same yard called Project Genesis. The £700 million vessel able to carry 5,400 guests is due to be completed in 2009.

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