A unit of Japan’s shipping giant NYK has placed an order for one LNG-powered cruise ship at German shipbuilder Meyer Werft.
Meyer Weft claims this marks the first newbuilding order for a cruise ship since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The yard said in a statement on Wednesday it signed the contract with NYK Cruises.
The unit of NYK currently operates one luxury cruise ship Asuka II, which serves the Japanese luxury cruise market.
The new 51,950-gt ship will have a length of 228.86 metres and a capacity for 740 passengers. The “relatively small” vessel will also accommodate 470 crew members, the German yard said.
Meyer Weft said it would also install the vessel’s LNG propulsion at its yard in Papenburg.
It plans to deliver the newbuild in 2025.