STX Lays Keel for Mein Schiff 4 at Turku Shipyard

On 25 February 2014, TUI Cruises and STX Finland celebrated the keel laying of Mein Schiff 4 at the Turku shipyard.

The ceremony comes in the wake of the keel laying of TUI Cruises’ first new building Mein Schiff 3, approximately nine months ago.

Following the old shipbuilding tradition, the lucky coins were placed under the keel block of the ship. At the ceremony, the shipowner was represented by Richard J. Vogel, CEO of TUI Cruises, CFO Frank Kuhlmann, Chief Engineer of Mein Schiff 3 Kostas Kallinikos and the designated Captain of Mein Schiff 3 Kjell Holm.

The shipyard’s representatives were deputy CEO of STX Finland Jari Anttila, COO Tapani Pulli, Project Director Toivo Ilvonen and Project Manager of Mein Schiff 3 and Mein Schiff 4 Sisko Hellgren. Classification Society Det Norske Veritas was represented by Principal Surveyor Pekka Toija.

“We are very pleased to see the first block of Mein Schiff 4 to be laid down exactly as planned. The building periods of Mein Schiff 3 and Mein Schiff 4 are record breaking tight and we are proud to be able to meet all the expectations. These ships represent the leading edge of development in environmentally friendly features”, says Jari Anttila, deputy CEO of STX Finland Oy.

“With today’s keel laying of Mein Schiff 4, we are proceeding in our expansion of our well-being fleet. From 12 March 2014, the first journeys on Mein Schiff 4 can be booked. Then, with four ships and a total capacity of approximately 9,000 beds, we are in an even better position to satisfy the wishes of our guests”, says Richard J. Vogel, CEO of TUI Cruises.

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Press Release, February 25, 2014