The Great ‘Norwegian Escape’

Norwegian Escape reverse’s out from its hanger. Photo captured from TV stream from Myer Werft.
The largest cruise ship ever built by Norwegian Cruise Line, Norwegian Escape at 164,000 gross tons, was floated out at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany on Saturday 15/08/2015.

Project Breakaway Plus ships are two new passenger cruise ships to be constructed by Meyer Werft, for Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). Upon delivery, the two ships will become the biggest German-built passenger cruise ships in NCL’s fleet.

The order for the first Breakaway Plus vessel was placed in October 2012 and The second ship was ordered in July 2013. They are scheduled to be delivered in October 2015 and mid-2017 respectively.

In September 2013, the two ships were named Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Bliss, through an online campaign held in the US, Canada (excluding Quebec), Spain, Germany and the UK.

The contract value of the project is estimated to be €1.4bn ($1.92bn). NCL has arranged for 80% of export credit financing through KfW IPEX-Bank of Germany.

Breakaway Plus ship design

NCL’s new Breakaway Plus ships will be similar in design to its Breakaway Class vessels, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway.

The Breakaway Plus class vessels will feature interiors with innovative designs, plush staterooms and world-class amenities surpassing NCL’s existing fleet of cruise ships. The new vessels will be approximately 10% bigger than the Breakaway class ships.


Photo captured from TV stream from Myer Werft.

An additional deck will be built to incorporate any new innovations. The total length of each cruise liner will be approximately 325m, width 42m and gross tonnage 163,000t. Each ship will have 4,200 passenger berths.

Bolidt will collaborate with Swedish company Tillberg Design and SMC Design to design synthetic floors and deck surfaces for the two Breakaway Plus cruise ships.

Breakaway Plus propulsion and machinery

Each Breakaway Plus vessel will be fitted with five tier II-type V48/60CR engines to be supplied by MAN Diesel & Turbo. Two of the five engines will have a power capacity of 14V each and the remaining three will have a capacity of 12V each.

“The engines will have a total power capacity of 76,800kW and use common-rail injection system, which is suited for both heavy fuel oil and distillate fuels, and helps reduce fuel consumption and gas emissions.”

The engines will have a total power capacity of 76,800kW and use common-rail injection system, which is suited for both heavy fuel oil and distillate fuels, and helps reduce fuel consumption and gas emissions.

Four propulsion transformers of 11,250kVA each and four distribution transformers of 2,500kVA each will be fitted. The remaining 11 transformers, whose efficiency will be between 550kVA and 2,500kVA, will be fitted in different parts of the ship.

The Breakaway Plus vessels will be fitted with transformers, azipods, converters, switchgears and motors supplied by ABB. A total of 19 transformers will be manufactured at ABB’s transformer plant in Brilon, Germany. ABB’s Turgi plant in Switzerland will manufacture the converters, while its facilities in Finland and Italy will manufacture the azipods and switchgears.

Advanced scrubber technology

Advanced scrubber technology developed by Green Tech Marine (GTM) will be used by the Breakaway Plus ships. GTM will provide five scrubbers for each ship.

These GTM-R scrubbers are small and occupy little cabin space and other service areas. The scrubbers will enable the ships to comply with the 0.1% sulphur limit in emission control areas (ECA), which is set to take effect in 2015. 

Norwegian Escape

Photo courtesy of cruisehive.com

Norwegian signs 15-year lease in Seattle

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Norwegian Cruise Line will be sailing in the Pacific Northwest for the foreseeable future.

The Port of Seattle said it has signed a 15-year berthing agreement with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings that includes passenger volume guarantees that will assure $73 million of revenue to the port.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is parent not only to Norwegian Cruise Line, but to Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. All three regularly sail to Alaska in the summer months.

Port of Seattle CEO Ted Fick said a 15-year lease for a cruise terminal is unprecedented on the West Coast. “Norwegian Cruise Line is showing real vision by investing in the economic growth of this region,” Fick said.

The agreement calls for Norwegian to make an estimated $30 million of improvements to the Bell Street Cruise Terminal that will expand the portion of the Pier 66 facilities used for processing cruise passengers.

During the summer season, Norwegian will manage cruise operations at the terminal, which is closer to downtown Seattle than the Smith Cove terminal used by Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and others. It will also have priority docking privileges.

Undocking the Norwegian Escape

Meyer Werft: Undocking the Norwegian Escape 

expected on 08/15/2015

Norwegian Escape in shipyard
Report thanks to
Undocking the Norwegian Escape: ship leaves the covered building dock of Meyer Werft on Saturday (15.08.2015) against 08.30 Clock

As the second ship in this year is the new cruise ship, the Norwegian ESCAPE leave the covered building dock of MEYER WERFT on Saturday, August 15, 2015. Extensive testing of security systems, mechanical and plant trials and completion of interior work had determined in the last few weeks the course in building dock II. The undocking of the ship that will be built for the American company Norwegian Cruise Line (Miami) starts at about 8:30 clock. After undocking and subsequent testing of thrusters, stabilizers and launching of lifeboats the ship will moor at the pier in the shipyard harbor.There, the lining of the chimney and the mast is fitted with a mobile crane.

Weather-related changes over time when undocking possible.

To facilitate the application of the Norwegian Escape at the pier, which is currently located at the fitting first swimming part of the Ovation of the Seas will be hauled. The second float member, which is currently in the building dock II shipyard is expected undocked on Friday afternoon and then also within the shipyard harbor. After undocking the Norwegian Escape are the two parts of the swimming Ovation of the Seas, which will be completed in spring 2016 maneuvered for further construction in the building dock II free.

At the fitting of the MEYER WERFT the final work and tests are carried out on the ship in the following days. Few days later, the first members of the crew then relate their cabins on the ship and familiarize yourself with the ship and its various systems and equipment. Already in mid-September will start their EMS overpass towards the North Sea, to ask where their seaworthiness prove the Norwegian ESCAPE. On September 5, we will make the ship nor the backdrop for this year’s NDR 2 Papenburg Festival.

The 164,600-gt construction has an overall length of 324 meters and is 41.4 meters wide. It is built to meet current safety regulations and meets all known environmental regulations.

A webcam is under www.meyerwerft.de transmit the undocking.