World’s largest cruise ship docks at Keppel Verolme for maintenance

On 30 September 2014, the world’s largest and most innovative cruise ship, “Oasis of the Seas”, arrived in Rotterdam. In the evening it was dry-docked at Keppel Verolme’s shipyard in Rotterdam for routine maintenance work. The ship which measures 362 meters in length, 60 meters in width and more than 70 meters high, is the first ship to tour the cruise line’s neighborhood concept of seven distinct themed areas, comprising Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone.

Besides maintenance work, Keppel Verolme’s work scope on “Oasis of the Seas” includes painting of the ship’s hull and replacement of one of its engines. At the same time, Royal Caribbean is using this dry-dock period for the refurbishment of the passengers’ facilities such as the renewal of 27,000 m2 of carpet. “Oasis of the Seas” will stay in Keppel Verolme’s mammoth dry-dock –the largest in NW Europe – for a period of two weeks.

Mr Harold Linssen, Managing Director of Keppel Verolme said, “Keppel Verolme is delighted to be selected as Royal Caribbean’s choice shipyard for “Oasis of the Seas”. This is a continuation of our strong partnership with them since the successful delivery of an earlier project, the “Enchantment of the Seas”.

“Having already established a strong reputation in maintenance, modification and conversion of deep sea vessels and offshore units, we also aim to widen our marine portfolio which includes the cruise ship segment.”

Royal Caribbean’s confidence in Keppel Verolme is the result of an earlier project that was successfully carried out in 2005. The yard lengthened Royal Caribbean’s cruise ship “Enchantment of the Seas” by 22 meters in an extremely short time, much to the satisfaction of Royal Caribbean.