TUI Cruises’ First-in-Class New Ship Successfully Completes Sea Trials
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The new Mein Schiff Relax from TUI Cruises has successfully finished her initial round of sea trials, showcasing excellent maneuverability in the Adriatic Sea.
This vessel, weighing 161,000 gross tons, is the largest ever constructed for TUI Cruises and marks the beginning of the innovative inTUItion class of ships. She underwent various maneuvers during her first sea trial.
These maneuvers were meticulously designed to ensure the ship can pivot, turn, and adjust her course effectively. Included were zig-zag courses, a 360-degree turn within a tight radius, a “crash stop” distance test, and a Williamson Turn, which is a specific type of 180-degree turn utilized in overboard scenarios.
“That is an exceptionally unique situation,” noted Moritz Schaefer, Chief Deck Officer. “I sincerely hope this will be the final man-overboard exercise this vessel has to undertake, ever.”
Mein Schiff Relax executed all these maneuvers impeccably while at maximum speed, showcasing her capabilities and agility – a fact that wasn’t necessarily assured. New ship designs frequently encounter issues and challenges that only come to light during such sea trials.
“This is not something to take for granted for a prototype featuring numerous technical advancements and an exceptionally modern and innovative bridge,” TUI Cruises remarked. “The successful sea trial confirms that the first vessel in the Mein Schiff fleet, equipped with two Azipods, operates confidently and securely.”
“Conducting these tests as soon as possible is critical, as it allows us ample time before delivery,” stated Georgios Vagiannis, Newbuild Director for TUI Cruises. “This will ensure everything functions optimally.”
It’s important to highlight that the vessel’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion was not evaluated during the initial set of sea trials, but further comprehensive operational assessments will take place in a few weeks.
Typically, new cruise liners go through multiple rounds of sea trials, each concentrating on various systems and operations. Aspects such as safety, navigation, propulsion, maneuvering, emergency protocols, and more are meticulously examined in a variety of scenarios to guarantee the vessel operates flawlessly.
Even though many tests and safety inspections are conducted during the construction phase, sea trials remain essential since there are certain systems that can only be thoroughly assessed when the ship is navigating the open water.
“You could say the vessel’s performance is evaluated during a sort of test drive,” noted the ship’s initial captain, Tom Roth. “This process is incredibly thrilling for us. We are gaining insights into how our ship operates and responds. Every aspect is scrutinized down to the tiniest detail.”
During the initial testing phase, other systems evaluated included the davit mechanism for deploying rescue boats, emergency horn signals, and various associated functions.
“The agility of our latest Mein Schiff Relax has gone beyond what we anticipated,” Roth stated.
All the ship’s officers, cruise line executives, and shipyard representatives present for the sea trials shared their feelings of excitement and emotion over the outcomes, as the vessel transitions to the next stage of its construction at the Fincantieri shipyard located in Monfalcone, Italy.
“We often liken the sea trial to an academic exam: If you’ve prepared, you can expect positive results.” explained Massimo Canesin, Vice President of Production for Fincantieri. “I can confidently assert that we’ve prepared well, as we finished the sea trial successfully. The vessel’s performance is truly astounding.”
Although the new vessel has successfully passed its initial sea trials, a significant amount of work still lies ahead before Mein Schiff Relax can be delivered and start welcoming passengers.
The ship’s interior, while framed and recognizable in various areas, has yet to be furnished, and all aspects of its interior design remain incomplete. Finishing touches such as carpeting, artwork, seating, and other details are yet to be added, but the timeline is currently on track.
Conducting sea trials at an early stage is a standard practice; the outfitting will take place once the essential systems of the ship have been confirmed as fully operational and appropriately certified.
The vessel floated out in November 2023, after which further detailed work and additional sea trials will be conducted.
Mein Schiff Relax is set to embark on her inaugural journey on March 16, 2025, departing from Palma de Mallorca, Spain. This 7-night cruise will feature port stops in both Italy and Spain.
The ship’s official naming ceremony is scheduled to take place in Malaga, Spain, on April 9, 2025. More information regarding this anticipated occasion will be released soon.
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The ship will be homeported in Palma de Mallorca until October 2025, providing a variety of 7- to 10-night itineraries that will include popular ports such as Las Spezia, Marseille, Barcelona, Valencia, Cadiz, Lisbon, Rome, Naples, Palermo, and many other exciting locations.
Up to 3,984 passengers are set to experience Mein Schiff Relax on each voyage, supported by a team of around 1,100 international crew members dedicated to providing an exceptional and soothing cruise experience.
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