seatec - Finnish marine technology review 1/2007 | Page 8

Freedom of the Seas on the Caribbean. he international shipbuilding group Aker Yards is one of the world´s largest ship builders. Focusing on sophisticated vessels, it comprises in seven countries17 yards with approximately 20,000 employees. The group has recently had strong growth through acquisitions and restructuring, and today´s market focused structure divides it into three business areas: Cruise & Ferries, Merchant Vessels and Offshore and Specialized Vessels. The capacity and capabilities in these are utilized across national borders. Aker Yards´ three shipyards in Finland, situated in Turku, Helsinki and Rauma 6 seatec 2007 as well as the two French yards in Saint Nazaire and Lorient belong to the Cruise & Ferries business area. ORDERBOOK OF 20 NEWBUILDINGS Aker Yards, Cruise & Ferries combines the long tradition of Finnish and French shipbuilding, benefitting from a unique design competence and strong industrial synergies. Our five C&F yards have the capacity to deliver three large cruise vessels and several smaller cruise vessels/ferries annually. Aker Yards has built, or are building, all 14 of the largest cruise ships in the world. In February 2007 the signed contracts worth 6.5 billion EUR included nine cruise vessels and eleven ferries. In addition, Option Agreements have been signed with Royal Caribbean, MSC, NCL, Stena and Color Line. NINE CRUISE VESSELS Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. continues developing extremely large cruise vessels for the volume segments of the market. Three Freedom-class, ultra large cruise vessels were ordered , of which the first, “Freedom of the Seas” was delivered in April 2006.The second vessel, “Liberty of Photo: Aker Yards / Indav: Gero Mylius T