The cruise line Tui Cruises has taken delivery of its latest newbuild, the “Mein Schiff Flow”, from the Italian shipyard Fincantieri.
The shipping joint venture between Tui AG and the US cruise group Royal Caribbean Cruises has taken delivery of the “Mein Schiff Flow” at the shipyard in Monfalcone. The ship is the second of two cruise ships in the new “Intuition Class”, which are designed for dual-fuel operation using LNG.
With a gross tonnage of around 160,000 GT and a capacity for approximately 4,000 passengers, the “Mein Schiff Flow” is based on a design developed by Fincantieri that “combines innovation and sustainability”, according to the handover announcement.
The “Mein Schiff Flow” is designed for operation with LNG propulsion, but can also use alternative fuels such as bio-LNG and e-LNG. The ship is equipped with Euro 6-compliant catalytic converters, a steam turbine to utilise the waste heat from the diesel generators, and a shore power connection. “These features enable virtually emission-free operation whilst the ship is berthed in port, which accounts for around 40% of its total operating time,” the shipyard added. The ship also features a new waste treatment system designed to convert organic materials into recyclable components using a thermal process.
With these two newbuilds, Tui Cruises had left its long-standing home shipyard, Meyer Turku, for the first time and switched to Fincantieri in Italy. “With the handover of the ‘Mein Schiff Flow’, we are celebrating a new milestone in our collaboration with Tui Cruises and underlining the strategic importance of the Monfalcone shipyard as a centre of excellence in global shipbuilding,” explained Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri. “Here, innovation, sustainability and industrial expertise are translated daily into production capacity and international competitiveness. This achievement highlights the strength of an ecosystem that is constantly evolving, investing in future technologies and expanding Italy’s industrial know-how.” More than 45 cruise ships have already been built at this shipyard, which employs around 6,500 people daily. The site is a key driver of industry and employment in the region.
The partnership was expanded through the contract signed last September for the construction of two further ships of the Intuition class – sister ships to the “Mein Schiff Relax” and “Mein Schiff Flow”, with delivery scheduled for 2031 and 2032 respectively.
