Aker France strikes it rich

Aker Yards is to build two cruise vessels for Norwegian Cruise Line, with an option for a third. The value of the two vessels is EUR 1,470 million ($1,869 million) and they will be delivered in 2009 and 2010 from the recently acquired yard in Saint Nazaire. This is the first contract announced since Aker Yards became the owner of the French yard.

The vessels will each carry up to 6,400 people onboard including crew, and have 2,100 passenger cabins giving 4,200 passenger berths. The newbuildings will include the feature that 100% of outside staterooms will have private balconies. In total, each ship will have over 1,470 balcony staterooms and suites.

They will be 325 metres long, 40 metres wide and have a gross tonnage of approximately 150,000. The two huge cruise vessels will contain state of the art facilities for the passengers including multiple restaurants and entertainment options to support NCL’s unique Freestyle Cruising concept. The contract includes an option for a third sister ship for delivery in the first quarter of 2011. The contract represents activity at the yard equal to approximately 7 800 man-years until 2010.

With this order Aker Yards has built, or are building, all twelve of the largest cruise ships in the world.

Mr. Yrjö Julin, President of Cruise & Ferries in Aker Yards comments “We are very proud to be able to contribute to the bold expansion of NCL’s fleet with these big new type of cruise vessels. The contract was made possible by using best practice from our French and Finnish yards, which currently are undergoing a rigorous integration process. Without the envisaged synergies, this contract would not have been attainable for either of the yards individually”.

The contract between NCL Corporation Limited and Aker Yards S.A. is subject to a number of conditions, including financing, completion of the design specification, and Star Cruises shareholder approval.