Meyer Werft’s Bernard Meyer joins Norwegian’s Andy Stuart and Christer Karlsson

PAPENBURG, Germany — Construction of Norwegian Bliss began here with the push of a large red button, sending automated plasma steel cutters into action on the first plates for the ship, due for completion in 2017.

Among the first items cut was a 2-foot outline of the ship, inscribed Norwegian Bliss. Executives from Norwegian Cruise Line and the Mayer Werft shipyard signed the commemorative plate, mounted on an easel outside the cutting room.

“To be cutting the steel for our next new ship is very exciting,” said Norwegian President Andy Stuart. “Norwegian has gone through a lot of changes over the last year and this will be the first ship delivered for the new Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.”

Meyer Werft managing director Bernard Meyer noted that Bliss will be the 10th ship built for Norwegian at Meyer Werft, which has become one of the most advanced cruise ship construction operations in Europe.

He said the yard expects to deliver the new ship, designated 694 at the yard, in the spring of 2017. “It will be a surprise for the market again,” Meyer predicted.

Norwegian’s latest ship, the 4,200-passenger Norwegian Escape, is scheduled to begin its conveyance from Papenburg down the Ems River to the North Sea on Friday. Plans call for the Escape to enter service in Miami in early November.

If the parking lot of the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg an RV park is like and many people flock to the levees of the river Ems, this has always been the same reason: The conversion of a cruise ship is waiting. Tomorrow is expected to be back so far.Around midday – so the current state of planning – to leave, according to the Meyer Werft shipyard in the harbor basin of the North Sea, the “Norwegian Escape”.”However, the weather conditions have to be right,” limited company spokesman Peter Hackmann on a demand of NDR.de. Due to the better maneuverability of the cruise giant takes over the Ems passage backwards in attack. Accompanied by several tugs as the bottlenecks at the Friesenbrücke in Weener and Jann Berghaus Bridge are happening in Leer. NDR.de transmits the spectacle live here in the video stream.

Ocean liner is ready for the bottleneck Ems

The Norwegian Escape is located in Papenburg harbor on the Meyer Werft. © NDR Photographer: Oliver Gressieker

The “Norwegian Escape” is the newest ship which will be completed on the Meyer Werft in Papenburg.

Expected Wednesday to leave the Papenburg harbor towards the North Sea cruise giant.

Thousands ship “Kieker” Probably again observe the ship overpass.

The 326-meter-long ship taking the route over the Ems ahead with the rudder in attack.

The Buck Norwegian Escape in frontal view. © NDR Photographer: Oliver Gressieker

The narrow Ems is a challenge for the 41 meter wide ship.

300 tons of paint are processed on the outer skin, among other things, for the huge turtle, which has designed the Marine Wildlife artist and conservationist Guy Harvey.

A swordfish is painted on the Schiffbug the Norwegian Escape. © NDR Photographer: Oliver Gressieker

In addition to turtles adorn the bow and other marine life – how these jumping swordfish.

The “Escape” offers 4,200 passengers.

The “Nowegian Escape” is the first ship of the Breakaway Plus class for Norwegian Cruise Line.

The interior of the “Escape” runs approximately one week before the overpass loud shipyard still in full swing.

If the “Escape” starts its service as a cruise ship, including 1,700 women and men of the crew.

For Emsüberführung the weather conditions must be ideal, says shipyard spokesman Peter Hackmann.

Therefore stands before the deadline for Emsüberführung the “Escape” to be a “likely”.

The handing over of the “Escape” to the shipping company is scheduled for mid-October.

Until then, the luxury liner to be tested through its paces.

The undocking on 15 August the “Escape” is the outfitting pier of the yard.According to information from Hackmann last work on the interior fittings are made currently. “It all goes to plan, we’re pretty far,” Hackmann had stressed in an interview with NDR.de recently. The 326 meter long and 41 meter wide luxury liner was composed of a total of 70 blocks. He is the first ship of the Breakaway Plus class for Norwegian Cruise Line. The “Escape” has 18 decks and thus one more than the previous “Norwegian Breakaway” and “Norwegian Getaway”, which had been delivered in April 2013 and in January 2014th Overall, the “Escape” can accommodate more than 4,200 passengers and 1,700 crew members.

Thousands of kilometers of cables and pipelines

For interior of the luxury liner include a theater with 815 seats, 15 restaurants, eight bars, a cinema and various spas.The maritime painting with tropical fish, stingrays and sea turtles at the bow of the vessel was applied to a design by artist and conservationist Seafood Guy Harvey with a laser. The 59-year-old Jamaican had taken a picture of the work in Papenburg in July itself. The total weight of the ink used is around 300 tons, as well as 2200 km cable and 400 kilometers of pipelines were laid. In mid-October, the ship should be passed to the shipping company