LWB books conversion, declares order independence

It said the 199.8m, 32,289gt Ro-Ro ferry Primula Seaways will dock in LWB’s Dock 111 on July 1st and stay for 31days. “The lengthening is of special importance for Lloyd Werft, particularly because options have also been secured to lengthen two further ferries for DFDS and because further projects for European ship owners are in hand at Lloyd Werft”, the yard said.

There has been speculation that Lloyd Werft would need to restrict repair and conversion because of production changes required and now reportedly underway to handle newbuilding. Ten vessels have been ordered, says LWB. Most if not all are for Genting and booked with the new Lloyd Werft Group, made up of LWB and Nordic Yards in Wismar, Stralsund and Warnemünde – also acquired by Genting in February. Another order was added this month, for a luxury 183m expedition cruise ship Crystal Endeavor.

LWB board member Dirk Petersjohann said the DFDS development was a sign that the yard “does not regard itself purely as Genting’s own house yard but should and will continue to acquire orders independently on the international shipbuilding market. We will not withdraw from competition but will, on the contrary, utilise our new possibilities internationally to acquire more work”, he declared.

The Primula Seaways work was “exciting and spectacular”, LWB said, adding it would not only cut the ship and insert a 30m, 1,300 tonne midship section built by local firm Rönner Stahlbau, but also repair damage sustained in a collision off the English coast in December 2015. The hull will be cut vertically and then horizontally near the bridge to avoid time-consuming interior ramp cutting.

Primula Seaways will then be 229.8m long and boast 4,650 lane metres for 307 trailers. DFDS said lengthening will mean a 25% increase in loading capacity.