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

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.

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

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.

Papenburg, 2 July 2009 - On 30 June 2009 MEYER WERFT's latest ships - the Celebrity Equinox and A-ROSA AQUA, the latest river cruise vessel built by MEYER WERFT's affiliated company NEPTUN WERFT - met in the Dutch port of Eemshaven.

Eemshaven is Celebrity Equinox's trial port from which she receives sea trials and finishing touches prior to delivery on 16 July 2009. A-ROSA AQUA was passing Eemshaven on her way to Delfzijl where supplies such as loose furniture, linen, crockery etc. were taken on board before her transit to Cologne, her port of destination. The captain of the A-ROSA AQUA seized the opportunity to pay a visit to the big "cousin". The formal naming ceremony of Celebrity Equinox will take place on 29 July 2009 in Southampton.

Rostock-Warnemünde, 30th June, 2009 – Today the NEPTUN WERFT delivered the latest river vessel, the A-ROSA AQUA to the A-ROSA Flussschiff GmbH. The new vessel is the seventh ship in the A-ROSA fleet and will leave the shipyard on the 1st of July headed for Cologne.

The A-ROSA AQUA is the thirteenth river cruise ship built in the assembly halls of NEPTUN WERFT since 2002. The high standard of the cruise vessel was possible due to numerous prior successes in this river cruise generation as well as the unique river cruise ship concept of A-ROSA Flussschiff GmbH.

The A-ROSA AQUA is 135 metres long, 11.4 metre wide, has a draft of approximately 1.6 metres and is driven by four rudder propellers. Due to its dimensions it can cruise on all large European rivers, even on the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal. The A-ROSA AQUA contains 99 cabins, each averaging 14.5 m² in and can host up to 202 passengers. 70 cabins are also fitted with a French balcony, and a special cabin for people with limited mobility is available as well.

Designed and constructed according to the latest regulations, the A-ROSA AQUA meets all current safety and stability requirements.

Cabins and public rooms

Great emphasis has been placed on the creation of recognizable features. Any passenger who has travelled in one of the A-ROSA fleet will notice familiar characteristics with the Danube or Rhone ships and immediately feel comfortable and at home. The entire catering concept has been further refined, specifically the food preparation, with an emphasis on real time preparation in front of the passenger. The central arrangement of the typical A-ROSA buffet enables the passenger to have their food on the sun deck as well, and the exceptional design of public spaces allows a varied, all-day use of the different rooms.

Public Rooms

The back half of the upper deck houses the entertainment and restaurants, as well as a spacious wellness area. The Atrium, which extends over three decks, leads into a passage which connects the lounge, bar, restaurant and vineyard which each other. Room dividers between the passage and the individual rooms are created to ensure a high degree of transparency while making the guest feel undisturbed as other passengers stroll by. The front public area contains the lounge, which includes a stage and dance floor. The bar, café-restaurant, buffet and market restaurant are also located in this area. The vineyard is located at the rear end of the ship and contains a terrace and indoor/outdoor bar as well.

A standard for the A-ROSA fleet is the wellness and fitness area with an adjoining sanarium, two massage rooms, fitness and relaxation rooms, shower facilities and for the first time a large balcony overlooking the facilities which includes an outdoor whirlpool and sun chairs. The whole upper deck of the A-ROSA AQUA is designed as a sun deck with play areas for shuffleboard, chess etc. which are nestled in the lawn carpet. In the rear sunshades protect the passenger from direct sunlight while the front features a hydraulic driven solar sail. The equipment is completed with wind deflectors and deck showers. The spacious atrium with a skylight built of glass connects all decks. Here the passenger will find the reception, tour deck and shops as well as a bicycle depot.

Cabins

All cabins are equipped with large double sized beds, a spacious bathroom with shower, hair dryer, safe, deposit box, as well as a chair, mobile sideboard and an air conditioning system. The rooms on the main and upper deck also contain of a French balcony while the cabins on the lower deck have two large portholes. A flat screen TV as well as the latest communication technology completes the interior. All passenger areas are decorated in bright, cheerful colours. The bed is covered with a canopy and ambitious furniture with decorative surfaces invites the passenger to relax.

Engine and Technology

The A-ROSA AQUA is powered by four Volvo Penta diesel engines Type D 12-450 MH (KC) with an output of 331kW and achieves a speed of 22.0 km/h. The propulsion system utilizes Schottel Type STP 200 three-bladed double propellers. Furthermore, two elastic mounted three-phase power generation units, each with approximately 525 kVA are installed. In addition an emergency power supply with a capacity of 280 kVA is also available. The maneuverability is effectively supported by a diesel-powerd Schottel Pumpjet with an output of 405 kW.

In the height adjustable driving state is the one-man control desk, two river radars, radio sets and all relevant control and monitoring elements arranged. All sewage is processed in a biologically operated sewage treatment plant while a vacuum system ensures sanitation. The air conditioning in public areas is centrally controlled with different programs available depending on the time of the day and intensity. Individual readjustments are available in each cabin.