WATCH: Cruise Ship Lengthening – Engineering Marvel Transforms ‘Balmoral’

Ever wondered how cruise lines supersize their ships?

In 2008, the cruise ship Balmoral underwent a significant transformation at Hamburg’s Blohm + Voss shipyard when it was extended by 99 feet (30 meters), showcasing an innovative approach to increasing ship capacity.

Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines, the ship’s current owner, commissioned the extension to enhance the Balmoral’s capacity. The process involved cutting the ship in half and inserting a new midsection, effectively increasing its length from 616 feet to 715 feet.

“This lengthening process is a testament to modern engineering capabilities in the maritime industry,” said a spokesperson. “It allows cruise lines to expand their fleet capacity without the need for entirely new vessel construction.”

The structural integrity of the extended ship was put to the test in 2009 when the Balmoral encountered 50-foot waves in the Bay of Biscay, a notoriously rough stretch of water.

Check out the video below to see the entire process, from precision cutting to the seamless integration of the new section and finishing.

Another notable cruise ship lengthening took place in 2018 at Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo, Italy, when the luxury cruise ship Silver Spirit was lengthened by 15 meters using a similar process. You can see photos of that project here.

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