History
NameMein Schiff 3
OperatorTUI Cruises
Port of registryValletta,  Malta
Ordered27 September 2011
BuilderSTX Finland Turku Shipyard
Cost€360 million
Yard number1383[1]
Laid down12 December 2012
Launched8 November 2013
Completed22 May 2014
Maiden voyage13 June 2014
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics [1]
TypeCruise ship
Tonnage
Length293.2 m (962 ft)
Beam35.8 m (117 ft)
Draft8.05 m (26 ft)
Installed power
Propulsion
Capacity
  • 1,253 staterooms
  • 2,500 lower beds
Crew1,000

Mein Schiff 3 (English: 'My Ship 3') is a cruise ship owned by TUI Cruises, and the first custom new build for the cruise line. She was delivered from STX Finland Turku Shipyard on 22 May 2014 and was followed by identical sister ships, Mein Schiff 4 in 2015, Mein Schiff 5 in 2016, Mein Schiff 6 in 2017. In addition, Mein Schiff 1 and Mein Schiff 2 were confirmed on 1 July 2015, with deliveries set for 2018 and 2019.[2]

Design & Construction

Aft view with iconic Große Freiheit faceted glass lounge and restaurant

On 27 September 2011, TUI Cruises ordered a 97,000 GT cruise ship from STX Finland Turku shipyard with delivery date set in 2014. The cost of the nearly 300-metre (980 ft) was approximately 360 million euro.[3] The contract also included an option for an identical sister vessel, which was confirmed on 5 November 2012.[4] According to TUI Cruises, the new ships would set a new environmental friendliness standard for the cruise line and feature a number of new technologies to improve the fuel efficiency.[5]

In late 2012, STX Finland was bidding for the construction of the third Oasis-class cruise ship for Royal Caribbean International in Turku shipyard and the funding of the two cruise ships for TUI Cruises was tied to this contract due to the difficult financial situation of the Finnish shipbuilder. However, after the shipyard failed to obtain a 50 million euro emergency loan from the Finnish Government and the contract for the world's largest cruise ship was awarded to STX France, there was a danger that the Turku shipyard could face bankruptcy unless it could quickly re-negotiate funding for the vessels, the first of which had been laid down on 12 December 2012 under the name "Newbuilding 1383".[1][6] By February 2013, the financial crisis appeared to be over after STX Finland was awarded 31 million euro in the form of "innovation aid" from the Finnish Government and the city of Turku purchased the land where the shipyard was located for 23.5 million euro. The South Korean parent company, STX Offshore & Shipbuilding, would also participate in the funding and the client, TUI Cruises, agreed on more flexible payments.[7] However, due to the looming liquidity crisis of STX Corporation later in the spring, the funding of the newbuildings as well as the future of the whole shipyard seemed again uncertain.[8] The crisis was finally solved when STX Finland sold its shares of Aker Arctic Technology Inc to the state-owned Finnish Industry Investment for 9.3 million euro in December 2013.[9][10]

The ship was launched on 8 November 2013 and officially christened Mein Schiff 3, German for "my ship".[11] On 22 April 2014, she left for the first and, due to the tight production schedule, only sea trials.[12] Mein Schiff 3 was handed over to TUI Cruises on 22 May 2014. She will be followed by Mein Schiff 4, delivered in 2015,[13] and slightly modified sisters Mein Schiff 5, delivered in 2016, and Mein Schiff 6, delivered in 2017.

Mein Schiff 3 overall interiors was designed by CM Design, who had previously worked on TUI Hotels; Wilson Butler Architects who designed the open decks, main theater, and the first concert hall at sea onboard;[14] Tihany Design, who designed aft of the ship featured the faceted glass structure that enclosed the Große Freiheit lounge and restaurant; and Tillberg Design of Sweden.[15] The open decks features one of the longest pools at sea(25 meters) along with a standard size covered pool aft of it.[16]

25 meter swimming pool

Service History

Mein Schiff 3 began her maiden voyage from Hamburg to Palma de Mallorca on 13 June 2014.[13] During the summer of 2014, it will operate on the Mediterranean.

On 28 January 2018, Mein Schiff 3 became the first cruise ship to visit Dominica since Hurricane Maria.[17]

On 26 June 2018 the ship suffered damages while docked in Honningsvåg. Due to strong winds the ship tore its mooring, and slammed into the docks. Cruiseskip har slitt seg ved kaia i Honningsvåg

Reparation

During 1 April until 2 June, Mein Schiff fit one additional stern thruster between frames 26 and 33, in Navantia Cadiz dry-dock 9 days and the rest during operational navigation.

Incidents

See: COVID-19 pandemic on cruise ships

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Mein Schiff 3 (32300)". DNV Vessel Register. DNV. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  2. ↑ Meyer Turku rakentaa kaksi risteilijää. Taloussanomat, 1 July 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  3. ↑ Risteilijätilaus tuo töitä tuhansille Turun telakalla. Turun Sanomat, 27 September 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  4. ↑ TUI tilaa myös toisen aluksen Turun telakalta. Turun Sanomat, 5 November 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  5. ↑ TUI Cruises announces fleet expansion – contract signed to build new ship. TUI Cruises, 27 September 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  6. ↑ Turun telakka vararikon partaalla – kaksi alustilausta vaakalaudalla. Helsingin Sanomat, 12 January 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  7. ↑ Vapaavuori: TUI-alusten rahoitus varmistunut. YLE, 26 February 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  8. ↑ TUI:n risteilijöiden rahoituspaketti jälleen uhattuna. Turun Sanomat, 4 April 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  9. ↑ Valtio hankki omistukseensa enemmistön arktisesta erityisosaajasta Aker Arcticista Archived 27 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Ministry of Employment and the Economy, 17 December 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  10. ↑ MTV: Turun telakka saa risteilijätilaukset. Iltalehti, 13 December 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  11. ↑ Mein Schiff 3 laskettiin vesille STX:n Turun telakalla. Meriteollisuus. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  12. ↑ TUI:n risteilijän koeajo myöhästyy. Turun Sanomat, 11 April 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  13. 1 2 Turun telakka luovutti Mein Shiff 3 -aluksen TUI Cruisesille. Turun Sanomat, 22 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  14. ↑ "TUI - Mein Schiff 3-4". Wilson Butler Architects.
  15. ↑ Id, Kalle; Peter, Bruce (2017). Innovation and specialisation: the story of shipbuilding in Finland. Lyngby: Nautilus Forlag. ISBN 978-87-90924-68-3.
  16. ↑ "Mein Schiff 3 | Our first luxury liner for TUI Cruises". MEYER WERFT.
  17. ↑ Staff, CIN (2 February 2018). "Mein Schiff 3 Becomes First Ship Back in Dominica". Retrieved 2 February 2018.
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