More cruise work

The Motorship, June 2011

Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven (LWB) was completing its second major cruise ship refurbishment of the year in late May. Almost a month of work was carried out on the 44,588 gt cruise ship Artemis, now renamed Artania. She was getting new balconies and being redesigned to suit German tastes in a project which reportedly involved an investment of more than € 20 million.

More than five years ago, LWB refurbished the former Royal Princess, renaming her Artemis, and the yard only finished updating the technology of the ship in Maya 2010. The Artania work was won over strong competition, according to LWB and Phoenix Reisen MD Benjamin Krumpen said the crucial factors in selecting LWB were that it not only „knows the ship very well“ but also „provides German shipyard work to schedule“.

Artania was getting 96 new balconies on decks 5 and 6. Bars, restaurants and spa areas were being redesigned and modernised along with standard passenger cabins and suites. Propellers, shafts, steering systems, stabilisers and bow thrusters were being overhauled and maintenance work carried out on the underwater hull. Machinery, superstructure and engine room repairs were also listed.

Officially completed just a day before Artemis arrived was the €50 million conversion of the 76,522 gt Mein Schiff 2, the former Meyer-built Celebrity Mercury. She was still berthed at LWB when Artemis came in.

Mein Schiff 2 is TUI’S second ship and, like Artania, is designed exclusively fort he German cruise market. Her conversion was similar to that of sister, Mein Schiff 1 (ex Galaxy), converted in 2009 also at LWB.

The latest four-star plus ship was given 430 new balconies and verandahs. Because of the extra weight, a 220 ton stern ducktail was added from Bremen steel engineering firm BVT. The ship’s bridge arms were also extended to given a better bridge overview during manoeuvering. When Mein Schiff 1 was converted, LWB said she had undergone extensive overhaul of her MAN B&W main diesels and equipment. That appeared like also her sister, but TUI did not says so.