Finnish shipyard secures €1.5bn order for fourth Icon Class cruise ship

MEYER TURKU recently announced the signing of an agreement to build the fourth cruise ship in the Icon Class for Royal Caribbean Cruises, with an option for a fifth and sixth ship. The massive class of cruise ships comes with a price tag of around 1.5 million euros each, marking a significant milestone for Finnish shipbuilding and the maritime industry according to Tim Meyer, the managing director of Meyer Turku.

The first ship, Icon of the Seas, was delivered in 2023, with the next two scheduled for 2025 and 2026. The CEO of Royal Caribbean International, Michael Bailey, described the Icon of the Seas as groundbreaking and promised more innovation to come.

The fourth ship is set for completion in 2027, with an estimated employment impact of 13,000 person-years. The agreement was warmly received in Finland, with Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Elina Andersson of Finnish Marine Industries praising the strength of the marine cluster and shipyards.

Meanwhile, Meyer Werft, the parent company of Meyer Turku, faces financial challenges, with the German government and Lower Saxony stepping in to guarantee solvency.

This exciting news highlights Finland’s expertise in shipbuilding, setting the stage for more innovative projects in the future.