Laying the keel for the cruise ship ASUKA III
MEYER WERFT and NYK Cruises celebrated the traditional keel laying for the new cruise ship ASUKA III. The assembly of the ship's hull has now begun with the lowering of the first steel block into construction dock I (Hall 5). The component, which weighs 345 tons, is 12.8 meters wide, 24.6 meters long and 7.4 meters high.
“With today’s keel laying we are celebrating the next important milestone in the construction of the ASUKA III. All of us at MEYER are proud to build this special cruise ship for the Japanese market. The special feature of designing the ship to meet the needs and requirements of Japanese passengers is unique. We work very closely with the NYK team and with passion,” says Managing Director Jan Meyer.
I am pleased to announce the successful completion of the keel laying ceremony. I appreciate the ongoing collaboration with the MEYER WERFT team and am confident that with their continued support we will successfully manage the launch of the ASAUKAIII in 2025," said Hiroyuki Endo, President of NYK Cruises.
For the new cruise ship, MEYER WERFT will use numerous solutions tailored to the Japanese market. This includes, for example, the spa areas, which are specially developed according to Japanese wishes and habits. In addition, the ASUKA III is the first passenger ship in around 30 years to be built under the supervision of the Japanese flag state.
The ship is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), one of the cleanest shipping fuels currently available. In addition to reducing CO2 emissions, the emission of nitrogen oxides and fine dust can be almost completely avoided, and sulfur oxides can be completely avoided.
Delivery of the approximately 52,000 GT ship is planned for 2025. With a length of 230.2 meters and a width of 29.8 meters, it will accommodate approximately 740 passengers.