Meyer Werft Lays Keel for New Quantum-Class Ship

The first block of the new cruise ship Anthem of the Seas for Royal Caribbean Cruises is put in place in MEYER WERFT’s building dock II. Image courtesy Meyer Werft/Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean International this week marked an important milestone in the development of the company’s newest class of ships, the Quantum class, with the keel laying of the Anthem of the Seas at the Meyer Werft Shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.

Jarmo Laakso, Associate Vice President Quantum Class from Royal Caribbean International, put down the lucky penny in the dock before the first block was lowered into place by the 800-ton crane in the yard’s covered building dock. The first block, weighing some 620 tons, is the first of a total of 74 blocks of the new cruise liner.

This keel-laying marks the official start of construction of the Anthem of the Seas.

Anthem of the Seas is the second of two Quantum ships under construction in the Building Dock. The 167,80 GRT vessels will measure over 1,141 feet (348 meters) long by 136 feet (41 meters) wide and will span 18 decks, with accommodation for 4,180 guests in 2,090 staterooms. Once delivered the ships will be the second largest in the RCCL fleet, behind the Oasis-class and just ahead of the Freedom-class.

Delivery of the Anthem of the Seas is scheduled for spring 2015 and will be homeported in Southampton, England, the company said today.

The sistership, Quantum of the Seas, is expected to be delivered as early as in the autumn of 2014.