Finland’s Meyer Turku yard has started building the first out of three LNG-powered cruise ships for Royal Caribbean International.
To mark the construction start, the yard held a steel-cutting ceremony for the Icon Class ship on Monday at its facility in Turku, according to a statement by Royal Caribbean International, a unit of Royal Caribbean Group.
The US-based cruise line said the Icon of the Seas would debut in fall 2023.
In addition, the vessel will have a tonnage of about 200,000 GT and enough room for about 5,600 passengers.
LNG and the ship’s additional “environmentally friendly” applications, such as shore power connection, would boost energy efficiencies and reduce carbon footprint, Royal Caribbean said.
The firm expects to take delivery of the other two Icon Class LNG-powered vessels in 2025 and 2026, respectfully.
