Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven is reaping the benefits of being owned by Genting Hong Kong since 2015 and the trend among cruise majors to invest heavily in upgrading existing tonnage.
In late 2018, the yard completed the multimillion-euro conversion of the 68,870-gt luxury cruiseship Crystal Serenity (built 2003) for Crystal Cruises, which along with Star Cruises and Dream Cruises belongs to Genting Hong Kong.
It marked the second direct contract between the yard and Crystal. Two years ago, Lloyd Werft handled extensive refurbishment of the 51,040-gt Crystal Symphony (built 1995).
Cruise operators have a massive $60bn-plus of new cruiseships on order but are also ploughing big money into bringing their older vessels up to similar standards.
The five-star, French-built Crystal Serenity spent almost three weeks at Lloyd Werft’s huge Kaiserdock 11 in a project that involved the creation of 38 new suites ranging from 37 square metres to 50 square metres, as well as routine operational maintenance work.
Yard joint managing director Rudiger Pallentin tells TradeWinds that some of the smaller cabins were converted into luxury penthouse suites with verandas and butler service.
He says the work was shared, with Lloyd Werft responsible for shipbuilding tasks and logistical requirements of the entire project and Crystal Cruises, along with partner companies, dealing with the interior refurbishment.
As well as Lloyd Werft personnel, several hundred crew members and subcontractors were involved.
The project shines some light on how Genting Hong Kong is dividing responsibilities between Lloyd Werft and its MV Werften yard facilities in eastern Germany, which are tasked by their parent with building new cruiseships for the group.
This includes MV Werften’s delivery of the 19,800-gt, 200-passenger expedition vessels Crystal Endeavor and Crystal Endeavor 2 in 2020 and 2021 respectively, a 204,500-gt, 5,000-passenger newbuilding for Dream Cruises in 2021, and a 600-passenger, Diamond-class ship also for Crystal Cruises in 2022.
Pallentin says Germany’s largest polar research vessel — Polarstern (built 1982) — marked its 69th dry-docking at Lloyd Werft last October and will log its 70th visit this summer.
However, he adds that the focus is especially on mega-yacht newbuildings, with “intensive” work underway at Kaiserdock 11 involving such a vessel for delivery in 2020.
Pallentin says the Lloyd Werft Design Centre, with 70 employees, is well occupied working on the project as well as design documentation for other new yachts and specialised vessels.
Tight confidentiality clauses mean little information is ever given on mega-yacht projects, often built for billionaire owners.
There has been talk in the market that Lloyd Werft is well placed to secure an order for a high-value specialised vessel in the next few months, although details remain sparse.
