Construction work started on the first Global Class ship on Thursday, March 8, at MV Werften in Germany.
Manuela Schwesig, Minister President of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay (Chairman & CEO of Genting Hong Kong) launched the flame cutter for the first steel cut in Wismar yard.
A few minutes later, the first steel was cut in Rostock yard. Both sites are needed to manufacture the 204,000 GT Global Class ship, the biggest to be built in Germany.
The final assembly will be carried out in Wismar yard. The first Global Class vessel is scheduled for delivery at the end of 2020. Around 600 companies are involved in the building process.
The Global Class ships are specifically designed for the rapidly growing Asian market with popular features including a Cineplex, Asian spa, theme park, authentic Asian dining experiences like fast food alternatives and shopping facilities.
The Global Class vessels will be 342 m long and 46.40 m wide with a draft of 9.5 m. With a capacity of 204,000 GT, the ships can accommodate around 5,000 passengers in 2,500 staterooms based on twin share basis. However, the cabins are designed for the Asian family and can sleep 2, 3 or 4 persons with split (2) bathrooms. In addition to the 28 large elevators, the Global Class will have 8 sets of escalators connecting all public areas, the first cruise ship to feature escalators. Via facial recognition, minimal queuing is expected for boarding, payments and disembarkation.
Construction on the 2nd Global Class ship is planned to begin early 2019 and scheduled for delivery at the end of 2021.