Aker delivers world?s largest

The third in the series of the world?s largest cruise vessels for Royal Caribbean was delivered today at Aker Yards, Turku in Finland. The ?Independence of the Seas? has all of the signature elements of her sister ships ?Freedom of the Seas and ?Liberty of the Seas?, making the Freedom-class ships the most innovative and forward-looking class of ships in the cruise industry for the time being.

The vessel is like a small city with lots of service: many restaurants, theatres, cafés, shopping mall, hospital, hair dressers and bakers. Passengers will be able to create their own unique adventure by choosing multiple onboard options from rock climbing, surfing or ice skating to spa treatments, fine dining or world-class entertainment.

In addition to the innovative comfort amenities there is lots of technical improvement onboard the ?Independence?, e.g. advanced water purification which purifies all of the ship?s grey and black waters into a degree of being virtually pure drinking water. The separated sludge will be consequently dried and incinerated with other combustible waste. All other waste material generated on board will be landed in ports and nothing, other than the fully purified waste water, will be released into the sea.

The vessel is 339 metres long, 38.6 metres wide, and can accommodate 4,375 passengers and 1,365 crew. It has diesel-electric propulsion and, in order to ensure a best possible fuel economy and subsequently environmentally friendly operation, a series of different hydrodynamic improvements including a new ducktail design were carefully studied and incorporated in the new vessel.