A key stage in the construction of Britain’s newest and most innovative cruise ship has been marked at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg.
The team building P&O Cruises’ 184,000 tonnes ship Arvia, which, like its sister ship Iona, will be powered by liquefied natural gas, establishing them among the world’s greenest ships, celebrated the milestone with the traditional coin-laying ceremony.
Specially selected Barbados coins were placed under the block before the block was then lowered onto them.
Speaking at the ceremony P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “Arvia will be our second ship to be powered by liquefied natural gas as part of P&O Cruises ongoing commitment to sustainable travel.
“The coins that are laid under Arvia’s keel today will be the embodiment of that warmth and sun as they are currency from our winter homeport of Barbados.”
The laying of Arvia’s first keel block, top of page, is celebrated in Papenburg
The keel block weighing 570 tons had to be hoisted into position by a 800-ton crane. The next steps are the completion of the block assembly of the aft part of the ship as well as the further outfitting of the ship.
Arvia will be delivered in December 2022 and will sail her maiden voyage to the Canary Islands followed by a winter season in the Caribbean.