Press Archive

New6.12.2012

New River Cruise Vessels for Viking River Cruises

NEPTUN WERFT to build ten more innovative vessels

Rostock, 05.12.2012 - Viking River Cruises in Basle (Switzerland) placed an order for 10 new river cruise vessels of the Viking Longship class with the NEPTUN WERFT in Rostock-Warnemünde. Two of the ships will be delivered in August and September 2013, the other new builds will be delivered by April 2014.

This order brings the total number of new vessels to be delivered to Viking to 10 in 2013 and eight in 2014. In addition options for a further eight Viking Longships with delivery in the spring 2015 have been signed.

"We are very happy to continue our excellent partnership with Viking River Cruises and look forward to a long-lasting relationship in building these luxurious river cruise vessels" so Manfred Müller-Fahrenholz, managing director of NEPTUN WERFT.

The new Viking Longships will sail Viking's most popular European itineraries on inland rivers that include the Rhine, the Main, and the Moselle and the Danube, as well as Dutch waterways. Two of the vessels to be delivered in 2014 will operate on the Rhône.

Recently named Best New River Ships of 2012 in Cruise Critic's® Editors' Picks Awards, Viking Longships integrate patent-pending* design and cutting-edge technology with comfortable amenities that reflect guest preferences and current travel trends. These new features include a revolutionary new all-weather indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace that reinvents the onboard lounge experience by bringing the panoramic outdoor river scenery indoors with retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors and allows guests to enjoy the views and dine al fresco.

Accommodating 190 passengers in 95 staterooms, Viking Longships feature two Explorer Suites - the largest river cruise suites in Europe - as well as seven tworoom Veranda Suites with a full-size veranda in the living room and a French balcony in the bedroom, 39 Veranda Staterooms with full-size verandas and 22 French Balcony Staterooms.

Additionally, Viking Longships have sustainability upgrades, such as onboard solar panels and organic herb gardens, as well as energy-efficient hybrid engines that reduce vibrations for a remarkably smooth ride. The vessels have a length of 135 m, a beam of 11.45 m and a draft of 1.60 m. Viking has applied for a number of patents for various aspects of the Longship design. For more information about Viking Long ships, visit www.vikingrivercruises.com.

These orders are a crucial element in securing the employment not only on the NEPTUN WERFT but also for the huge number of workers at the regional suppliers engaged in building these vessels.

Since 2002 the NEPTUN WERFT has delivered 23 river cruise vessels to different owners and thus is one of the leading yards and specialist in this field.

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New16.3.2012

Viking River Cruises Announces Six More New Builds

Los Angeles (March 14, 2012) - Viking River Cruises (www.vikingrivercruises), the world's leading river cruise line, announced today that it has commissioned six more Viking Longships for delivery in 2013.

The six vessels will be joining Viking Freya, Viking Idun, Viking Njord, Viking Odin, which will be christened on March 21, 2012, and the Viking Embla and Viking Aegir, which will be delivered later in 2012.

"The new orders reflect the great interest in Viking River Cruises and its revolutionary Longships" says Viking's Chairman Torstein Hagen.

Viking Longships integrate patent‐pending* design, cutting‐edge technology with comfortable amenities that reflect guest preferences and current travel trends, such as:

  • Two Explorer Suites, which will be the largest river cruise suites in Europe at 445 square feet, each featuring a separate living room, bedroom and private wraparound veranda, offering 270‐degree views.
  • Seven two‐room Veranda Suites with a full‐size veranda in the living room and a French balcony in the bedroom.
  • Thirty‐nine Veranda Staterooms with full‐size verandas.
  • Twenty‐two French Balcony Staterooms.
  • A revolutionary new all‐weather indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace, which reinvents the onboard lounge experience by bringing the panoramic outdoor river scenery indoors with retractable floor‐to‐ceiling glass doors allowing guests to enjoy the scenery and dine al fresco.
  • New premium in‐cabin amenities that include heated bathroom floors and mirrors, Sony HD TV' and premium bath products.
  • Sustainability upgrades, such as solar panels, an onboard organic herb garden and energyefficient hybrid engines that reduce vibrations for a remarkably smooth ride.

The Longship series have been designed by celebrated maritime architects Yran & Storbraaten and Los Angeles based Rottet Studios. They are all being built at the Neptun Yard in Germany, part of the Meyer Neptun group.

"At Viking, we are proud of our Norse heritage. The ancient Vikings were the ultimate explorers and that tradition lives at Viking River Cruises today. For that reason, we have honoured our new Viking Longships and our beautifully refurbished Russian fleet with names of celebrated Viking gods and heroes" says Hagen.

With the six additional vessels Viking will have invested over $ 400 million in its fleet development program over three years.

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New14.12.2011

W.D.R. puts new ferry into service

New overall concept offering greater capacity and better amenities on the Föhr-Amrum line

Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei (W.D.R.) puts the second double-ended ferry into service on the Föhr-Amrum line in only 18 months. The Schleswig-Holstein follows the example of the Uthlande, commissioned in 2010, and will have a transport capacity of 1.200 passengers and 75 cars. This double-ended ferry was built by NEPTUN WERFT shipyard in Rostock in ten months' construction time. The 17.5-million-euro investment in a second vessel within such a short time frame allows W.D.R. to present a new overall concept on the shipping line between the North-Frisian islands of Föhr and Amrum, significantly improving transport capacity and the amenities for passengers.

Today, on 14 December, the Schleswig-Holstein continued her transfer journey from the shipyard in Rostock, where she was built, to her future home port Wyk on the island of Föhr (Wyk auf Föhr), leaving Kiel harbour and passing the Kiel Canal to sail through the North Sea. She is scheduled to begin her service in the Wadden Sea on the Dagebüll-Föhr-Amrum ferry line before Christmas. The christening ceremony for the new ship will be held on 30 December in Wyk auf Föhr.

"The Schleswig-Holstein underlines how we at W.D.R. strive to offer our passengers the best service as well as a maximum of safety and reliability. Commissioning this ferry marks the completion of our overhaul of the line's operating concept - which we will now present to our passengers", said Axel Meynköhn, the Managing Director of Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei on the occasion of the transfer journey. "We were pleased to have been able to commission NEPTUN WERFT shipyard in Rostock, a prestigious German shipbuilder, for the Schleswig-Holstein. And we are very excited about the result, which once again highlights the high level of competence and dedication to quality that is so characteristic of German shipbuilding."

NEPTUN WERFT in Rostock has many years' experience building passenger ships, and its industry reputation matches that of Sietas Werft shipyard, which successfully built the first new ship, Uthlande. "As with the first order, we decided in favour of what we saw as the best overall package," Axel Meynköhn explained when placing the order in September 2010. W.D.R. considers it expedient to have its vessels built by German shipyards.

The Schleswig-Holstein: the 29th new construction for W.D.R. comes from NEPTUN WERFT shipyard

The new double-ended ferry is the 29th newbuild in the 126-year history of W.D.R., and was built in the NEPTUN WERFT shipyard. The shipyard, which belongs to the MEYER NEPTUN Group, has a vast amount of experience building passenger ships and specialises in river cruise ships. For the shipyard, construction of the Schleswig-Holstein also marks its entry into the Ro/Pax segment. "The double-ended ferry was a new type of ship and a reference project for NEPTUN WERFT," said Manfred Müller-Fahrenholz, Managing Director of NEPTUN WERFT shipyard. "We have a great interest in this market segment and building this ship was an exciting project for us. We worked very closely with W.D.R. throughout the project and carefully coordinated all necessary details, such as those concerning construction supervision, for example. It was a highly enjoyable joint project."

About the double-ended ferry

The Schleswig-Holstein will carry up to 1,200 persons and 75 cars. The ship's design - with an identical stern and bow onto which four Voith-Schneider propellers are mounted - allows the ferry to navigate in either direction without having to go through time-consuming turning manoeuvres in the harbour. Pedestrians can reach the lounges and decks via special passenger doors on the side of the ship. The double-ended ferry is 75.88 metres long, 16.40 metres broad, has a cruising speed of 12 knots and is able to carry up to 360 tonnes. At capacity, its draught is a mere 1.75 metres. This permits the vessel to operate irrespective of the water level in the Wadden Sea, making it even more reliable as a scheduled public transport service. For the most part, the design of the Schleswig-Holstein is modelled on the Uthlande, while some changes have been made for the passengers' convenience. One example of this is that toilets can now be found on all passenger decks. In addition, the gradient of the stairs was reduced from 45 to 36 degrees, making them less steep and easier to climb.

Both the Schleswig-Holstein and the Uthlande have a 100% barrier-free construction - a fact for which the Sozialverband Deutschland association (association of German social organisations) nominated the two W.D.R. ferries for a special award for ships that are suitable for disabled passengers.

Christening of the Schleswig-Holstein on 30 December

Even before Christmas, passengers of the Föhr-Amrum line will have an opportunity to see the new double-ended ferry in action - as she begins her service. The new addition to the W.D.R. fleet will be properly celebrated on 30 December at 10:45 a.m. in the inner harbour of Wyk auf Föhr, when the ship is officially named Schleswig-Holstein.

This past year W.D.R.'s five passenger and car ferries transported 1.8 million passengers and 315,000 cars. Axel Meynköhn, the general manager of W.D.R., expects business to progress steadily in 2012: "The North-Frisian islands Föhr and Amrum continue to draw many visitors. They are both places of tremendous natural beauty and great places to live."

Media contact: Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei | Schellenberg & Kirchberg PR, phone: +49 40 593 50 500 NEPTUN WERFT | Manfred Müller-Fahrenholz, phone: +49 381 384 10 10

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New10.11.2011

Steel cutting of eco-friendly Gas Tanker Coral Energy

Shipyard is building its first LNG Tanker

Papenburg/Rostock/Rotterdam, November 9, 2011 - After designing a new prototype at the computer the innovative newbuild begins to take shape: The steel cutting of the first LNG carrier with a so-called dual-fuel engine for Anthony Veder (Rotterdam/NL) marks a new era. The new tanker for the transport of Liquefied Natural Gas will have a length overall of abt. 156 m, a breadth of 22.70 m and a cargo capacity of 15,600 m³, which can be cooled down to minus 164° C. The ship which will be named Coral Energy is able to operate at a speed of 15,8 knots and can be powered by LNG as well as heavy fuel oil.

The delivery of this vessel is scheduled for the end of 2012. MEYER WERFT's sister company, NEPTUN WERFT in Rostock, will be highly involved in the construction and outfitting of this new LNG carrier.

Anthony Veder Group is a successful tanker owner operating a fleet totalling 24 ships which are dedicated to the transport of liquefied gas. "We will further distribute eco-friendly energy to the market", says Jan Valkier, Managing Director of Anthony Veder.

The LNG market is growing. The long-term time charter of this new vessel by the Norwegian company Skangass AS indicates this clearly.

Thanks to this important order MEYER WERFT, which already built 55 LPG- and LEG carriers, is now entering the market of building LNG carriers. "We see that especially the smaller-scale LNG market has a great future. Beyond that we will further improve our know-how in environmental-friendly technologies," says Bernard Meyer, Managing Partner of MEYER WERFT.

Photo: Steel cutting of the first steel plate for the new LNG carrier for Anthony Veder.

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New24.1.2011

Anthony Veder orders LNG carrier at MEYER WERFT

Papenburg/Rotterdam, January 24, 2011 - The Dutch shipping company Anthony Veder (Rotterdam) has ordered a new LNG carrier from MEYER WERFT. The new tanker for the transport of liquefied natural gas will have a length overall of abt. 156 m, a breadth of 22.70 m, and a cargo capacity of 15,600 cbm. This modern vessel which will be able to run on the low emission LNG fuel will be classed within the highest environmental norms.

The delivery of this new vessel is scheduled for end 2012. MEYER WERFT's sister company, NEPTUN WERFT in Rostock-Warnemünde, will be highly involved in the construction and outfitting of this new LNG carrier. For the shipyard in the Baltic this order is very important to safeguard the workload for their staff up to 2012.

For Anthony Veder this is the second small scale LNG carrier. This new vessel has double the capacity than the Coral Methane. MEYER WERFT and Anthony Veder Group have already worked together since the mid of the 1970s. "We are excited about our next step in LNG with this innovative ship, the first of this type. It fits our goal to further develop this market of distributing environmental friendly energy." says Jan Valkier, Managing Director of Anthony Veder.

Thanks to this new order MEYER WERFT, which has already built 55 LPG- and LEG carriers, is now entering the market of building LNG carriers. The Papenburg-based shipyard's focus is on mid-scale ships of this type. "We see that the smaller-scale LNG market has a great future," says Bernard Meyer, Managing Partner of MEYER WERFT.

Profile Anthony Veder (www.anthonyveder.com)

Anthony Veder Group (est. 1937) offers a modern high quality fleet of 21 gas tankers with a further 4 ships on order. The fleet is continuously modernised, renewed and adjusted to comply with new regulations, customer requirements and the high standards of the gas industry. The company has a b customer focus and offers a reliable and flexible service with a wide range gas tankers for the transportation of LPG, petrochemical gases, CO2 and LNG. Amongst the development of the large scale CO2 shipping concept, the company goal is to further develop the small scale LNG market. For more information please contact Anthony Veder - Mr Jan Valkier: + 31 10 4004781

For more information please contact MEYER WERFT/NEPTUN WERFT: Peter Hackmann: +49 4961 81 -4519

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New5.10.2009

A-ROSA VIVA leaves the assembly hall

Rostock-Warnemünde, 05th October 2009 - The newest river vessel the A-ROSA VIVA has left the assembly halls of the NEPTUN WERFT. She is the eighth river cruiser for the A-ROSA Flussschiff GmbH. After a short docking time the A-ROSA VIVA will be hauled to the fitting quay for testing and final equipment installations.

The A-ROSA VIVA will join the A-ROSA fleet in early 2010 and will cruise on the Rhine, Main, Danube and the Mosel. She is 135 meters long, 11.4 metres wide and has a draft of 1.6 metres. With 99 cabins, each 14.5 square metres big, the A-ROSA VIVA has space for 202 passengers. 70 of these cabins are also equipped with a French balcony. Together with a buffet restaurant, an attractive bar and lounge as well as with the spa and the large sun deck, a pleasant stay on board is guaranteed. There are 32 cabins available specifically for crew members

Final delivery of the A-ROSA VIVA to the A-ROSA Flussschiff GmbH will take place in February, 2010.

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18119 Rostock

Tel.: 0 3 81 / 3 84 -10 10
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