VIDEO: Keel Laid for Third Oasis-Class Cruise Ship

Royal Caribbean has announced the keel laying of the third Oasis-class ship during a ceremony held at the STX shipyard in St. Nazaire, France, marking the beginning of the physical construction of the latest installment of the world’s largest cruise ship.

The keel for the new 225,000-ton Oasis III was laid as a crane lifted a 1,000-ton block into the building dock.

At the same time, Royal Caribbean also formally announced plans for a fourth Oasis-class ship, which is also to be built at STX France.

The first two Oasis-class ships, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, were built in Turku, Finland.

Oasis-class cruise ships can accommodate 6,300 passengers and almost 2,400 crew

The Oasis III is scheduled for delivery in 2016.