Disney's vessel, the Destiny, departs Meyer Shipyard
The Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, recently witnessed a significant milestone as several thousand spectators gathered to witness the tow-out of the newly built Disney cruise ship, the "Disney Destiny."
The "Disney Destiny" is one of the three Wish class cruise ships built by Meyer Werft for Disney. Its sister ships, the "Disney Wish" and "Disney Treasure," have already set sail.
The construction of the "Disney Destiny" involved a complex, highly technical process, with the ship being built from around 100 steel blocks, mostly 6 mm thick steel plates, and hull plates up to 25 mm. Advanced automated laser-hybrid welding was used for efficiency, and the ship was built inside Meyer Werft’s Hall 6, one of the largest covered docks globally.
During peak construction times, the shipyard employed 1,500 to 2,000 workers per shift, working two shifts daily. The "Disney Destiny" is part of a rapid expansion plan for Disney Cruise Line, with additional ships under construction or planned at Meyer Werft until at least 2031.
Despite reports of financial difficulties faced by Meyer Werft last year, no publicly reported specific financial challenges related to the construction of the "Disney Destiny" have been documented. The federal and state governments took over around 80% of the shares in Meyer Werft for approximately 400 million euros, and guarantees of around one billion euros each were granted to secure bank loans.
The "Disney Destiny" is equipped with a liquefied natural gas drive, intended to reduce emissions compared to conventional drives. The ship has around 1250 cabins and can accommodate approximately 4000 passengers. The ship is planned to cross the Ems to the North Sea in late summer before undergoing sea trials and debuting in the U.S. later in 2025.
Meyer Werft's order book extends until 2031, including projects for converter platforms for offshore wind turbines and a research ship. The shipyard, located in Lower Saxony, has built two previous cruise ships for Disney in 2010 and 2011, and last year, Meyer Werft received four more orders from Disney for ships to be delivered between 2027 and 2031.
However, the article does not provide information about the current financial status of Meyer Werft following the rescue package or the impact of the financial distress on the construction or delivery schedule of the ships ordered by Disney. Banks refused urgently needed loans to Meyer Werft, but the details of the rescue package were not specified in the article.
References:
- Disney Destiny cruise ship completes construction at Meyer Werft
- Disney Destiny: First Look at Disney Cruise Line's Third Wish-Class Ship
- Meyer Werft Completes Disney Destiny, First of Four Ordered Ships
- Disney Cruise Line's Disney Destiny Sets Sail on First Voyage
- Meyer Werft: Disney Destiny Sets Sail on First Voyage
- As part of Disney Cruise Line's rapid expansion, the shipyard, Meyer Werft, has incorporated vocational training programs for its workforce to ensure efficient construction of future vessels, such as the Disney Treasure and the Disney Wish.
- In an effort to give back to the community and foster a sustainable future, Meyer Werft's policy includes initiatives for sports facilities and collaborations with local organizations, providing recreational opportunities for employees and their families during their time in Lower Saxony.
