Aker Finnyards' Turku shipyard gets order for third new cruise liner

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Aker Finnyards has signed a letter of intent with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. for the construction of a third in a series of cruise ships to be built at the company's Turku shipyard. The value of the order will be about EUR 580 million.
      The Finnish shipbuilder is to build three cruise ships of the Freedom class, the world’s largest class for cruise vessels. The previous agreement was signed in the autumn.
      The cruise liners are to be delivered to RCCL at one-year intervals. The first will be ready in the spring of next year. The most recent order would provide enough work to keep 3,000 people employed full time for a year.
     
The Aker Finnyards Turku facility currently expects to hire 200 new employees, and about 100 new jobs are expected for subcontractors. The ships are to be assembled in Turku, and should also bring some work to employees at the company’s Helsinki shipyard.
      Finnish shipbuilders had been suffering from a shortage of orders, and some employees have been laid off. Now there is a shortage of skilled labour, especially sheet metal workers and welders.
      The letter of intent signed on Monday still requires the approval of the boards of directors of the buyer and the seller.
     
Aker’s Helsinki shipyard currently has the lowest volume of orders. The yard is waiting impatiently for a final decision on a letter of intent with Norwegian Cruise Lines for a new luxury cruiser.
      CEO Yrjö Julin says that the shipbuilding industry is experiencing a boom, and that there has been an increase in orders in Europe as well.
      Caribbean cruises are also selling well: ships are running at full passenger capacity, and new tonnage is needed.
      "The shipping line is willing to order a new vessel, even though the dollar is weak. This shows that there is a real need", Julin said at a press conference on Monday.
      The 160,000 GRT Freedom class ships are about 340 metres in length, with a breadth of 39 metres, and have capacity for more than 3,600 passengers and 1,400 crew.
      Early this year the Norwegian Aker Yards merged the Finnish shipyards in Helsinki, Turku, and Rauma into a single company - Aker Finnyards.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Kvaerner Masa-Yards pick up huge order for luxury cruise liner (8.9.2004)
  Aker Yards warn of dismissals for 700 staff in Finland (10.11.2004)
  Shipbuilder Aker Finnyards to cut 315 jobs in Finland (19.1.2005)

Links:
  Aker Finnyards press release 7.3.2005: RCCL and Aker Yards sign LOI for third Freedom-class cruise ship

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