Trials for unique newbuild as MVW faces cutbacks

Initial reports said the three days of Baltic trials on the 164m x 23m Crystal Endeavor, had been successful. Two Fairplay tugs towed the 20,000 gt newbuild, which is billed as the world’s largest ship of its type with PC6 ice class certification, from MVW’s Stralsund shipyard to the open sea.

MVW said the “comprehensive” German coastal and deep water Baltic trials had covered the ship’s most important technical functions, including engines and propulsion and steering and navigation – and added that sonic and vibration measurements had also been taken.

Further sea trials were planned for April, MVW revealed, by which time remaining work, including work on the 200-passenger newbuild’s luxury interiors, was being finished off in Stralsund. The handover of Crystal Endeavor is reported planned for late May, a year after its originally scheduled delivery – delayed by the Covid pandemic.

Reports said Crystal Endeavor’s Wärtsila 32 engines had performed well during the trials when an average speed of 16 knots and a top speed of 20 knots had been recorded. Four of the 6-cylinder Wärtsilä units are linked with Wärtsilä NOx Reducer (NOR) systems to provide electrical power. The system is described as fully compliant with IMO Tier III exhaust emission regulations.

MVW ordered the Wärtsilä 32 engines for Crystal Endeavor in 2017 and also secured options for the same systems on the originally planned two further Endeavor Class ships and also for the group’s two initial 208,000gt Global Class cruise ships. Those giants are also now under build but their future is much in doubt.

Electric power plant, propulsion system and automation and marine software systems from ABB were also ordered in 2017 for the five ships. Crystal Endeavor is powered by two Azipod D units to enable it to navigate polar conditions. It also has ABB´s flagship automation with Intelligent Maneuvering Interface and OCTOPUS marine software for optimised energy management.

The Crystal Endeavor sea trials come against a background of crisis at MVW’s yards in Wismar, Stralsund and Rostock. The Covid pandemic and the decline in demand for cruise ships have hit both the group and owners Genting hard.

MVW has already been granted €193 million in government help and is hoping for more soon. To get it, restructuring around the ships already under build is on the cards along with a reduction of the ca 3,000 strong workforce by about a third.