Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) advised long-standing client TUI Cruises GmbH (“TUI Cruises”) on the delivery of the Mein Schiff Flow, the ninth ship in the Mein Schiff series and TUI Cruises’ second to be built at Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard. WFW advised TUI Cruises on the building contracts, financing arrangements and delivery of the ship.
The Mein Schiff Flow is the second of four InTUItion-class ships being built at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone yard for TUI Cruises. At approximately 160,000 gt, the vessel can accommodate around 4,000 passengers with its design combining spacious public areas with numerous places to retreat for maximum relaxation. The Mein Schiff Flow was designed to appeal to a very broad target group with its wide range of amenities, from single travellers to families.
As part of TUI Cruises’ decarbonisation roadmap, the company is committed to using a range of climate-friendly fuels, including biodiesel, biomethanol and bio-LNG, as well as synthetic fuels. The Mein Schiff Flow is equipped with an advanced dual-fuel liquefied natural gas propulsion system and will already bunker Bio-LNG in its first summer season.
TUI Cruises was established in April 2008 as a joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Based in Hamburg, the company operates a fleet of nine ships under the Mein Schiff brand. The Mein Schiff fleet offers contemporary holidays at sea in the premium segment (Mein Schiff 1 to Mein Schiff 7/Mein Schiff Relax & Mein Schiff Flow/bed capacity: 26,800). The Hapag-Lloyd Cruises brand, which currently comprises five ships, is also part of TUI Cruises. The fleet includes the two luxury cruise ships EUROPA and EUROPA 2, as well as the HANSEATIC-class expedition ships. TUI Cruises operates one of the most modern fleets in the world.
The WFW London Maritime team that advised TUI Cruises was led by Assets and Structured Finance Partner Lucy Shtenko, working closely with fellow Partner Robert Platt, Senior Associates Katie Shiels and Philip Chope and Associate Emma Devenish. Rome Trainee Flavia Piccioni also provided on the ground support to TUI Cruises at the delivery in Italy.
Lucy commented: “We are, once again, delighted to have advised TUI Cruises on the delivery of its most recent Mein Schiff vessel. Yet another beautiful and sustainable ship has been added to its fleet. WFW was well placed to support TUI Cruises with this fleet expansion project, demonstrating our close relationship with TUI Cruises and highlighting our top tier reputation for excellence within the maritime and cruise sectors across our international network”.
