Neptun adds to bulging cruise newbuild list

The latest pair, to be named Viking Jarl and Viking Atla, are in addition to two series of six 135m long Longships already booked by the cruise operator for delivery up to early summer 2013. Viking said earlier this year those 12 newbuilds, each for 190 passengers, represented a fleet development investment of more than $400 million over three years.

10 Viking ships were under build as of late July at Neptun. One is for hand-over by the end of the year, bringing the number delivered to the owner during 2012 alone to an impressive six.

Viking describes the Longships as “revolutionary” with patent-pending design and cutting-edge technology. They boast what are said to be the largest river cruise ship suites in Europe at 445m² with 270º views and all-weather indoor/outdoor terraces with retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors. Specific engine and machinery details have not been revealed but the ships are said to boast “energy-efficient hybrid engines that reduce vibrations for a remarkably smooth ride”.

Yard MD Manfred Müller-Fahrenholz was quoted as saying, modestly perhaps, that Neptun, once Germany’s mightiest shipyard and now a subsidiary of Meyer Werft in Papenburg, is “relatively well-booked for 2012 and 2013”.

Along with the Viking ships, The Motorship has already learned that steel-cutting will start at Neptun in Autumn on a new €124.4 million German research ship Sonne. Keel laying will be next year for that 112.4m replacement of an existing 97.6m ship of the same name. She is for delivery late 2014 or early 2015.