The German shipbuilder Meyer Werft on September 21st marked a significant milestone with the commencement of steel cutting for a new ship for NYK Cruises, a subsidiary of the Japanese shipping conglomerate NYK Group. The vessel, named Asuka III, is on track for delivery in 2025 April.
Asuka 3, boasting a gross tonnage of 52,200 GT, will stretch 230 meters (755 feet) in length and span 29.8 meters (98 feet) in width, offering accommodation for up to 744 passengers.
Meyer Werft is committed to incorporating tailored solutions into this new cruise ship project. These include hydrodynamics optimized to align with the planned routes, contactless control systems, and onboard amenities tailored to cater to the preferences of Japanese passengers. Moreover, Asuka III will operate using liquefied natural gas (LNG) as her primary power source, aligning with the industry's sustainability initiatives.
Meyer Werft managing director Thomas Weigend said "the order from NYK Cruises in 2021 in the middle of the pandemic was a strong signal for shipbuilding in Papenburg."
"Therefore, we are also very pleased today to have won NYK Cruises as a customer and to be able start in the construction of this modern cruise ship."
Hiroyuki Endo, president at NYK Cruises noted that in the ship’s designing, they were all grateful to the cooperation rendered by Meyer so far.
"We wish to continue this excellent relationship with them to the successful delivery of Asuka III and beyond."
NYK Cruises (1989-founded) owns the Asuka Cruise travel brand targeting almost exclusively the Japanese source market. NYK currently operates the cruise ship Asuka II. The first Asuka ship (now Amadea) debuted in 1991 and made history as the first Japanese ship to embark on a world voyage.
Since its relaunch in 2006, Asuka II (fka Crystal Harmony) has operated diverse itineraries visiting exotic ports worldwide.