MEYER WERFT to build Third Ship for the German Market

Papenburg, 13.07.2005 - The German cruise operator AIDA Cruises, headquartered in Rostock, has awarded the building contract for another 68,500‑gt club ship to MEYER WERFT in Papenburg. Delivery of the newbuilding is scheduled in April 2008.

"We are very pleased with this contract. It was a hard struggle, and we've been able to offer AIDA a good, complete package again with this newbuilding. What we really appreciate is that with this third ship of the Sphinx class, we can set the course for another milestone in the German cruise market", says Bernard Meyer, MEYER WERFT's CEO and managing partner.

This third cruise ship will have a length overall of 249 m and a breadth of 32.2 m. The new club ships for AIDA Cruises will be the coming generation of ships representing the AIDA concept. 2,030 passengers will be accommodated in 1,015 cabins. The ships will feature a wealth of technical innovations and interior design highlights. The well-known brand design regarding the outer appearance of the ships will remain the same.

A power of 36,000 kW (approx. 50,000 hp) will be generated by four large diesel engines, enabling the new cruise liners to operate at a speed beyond 21 knots.

Hence, in 2007, 2008 and 2009, MEYER WERFT will deliver one club ship each to AIDA Cruises, Germany's market leader for cruises.