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“Pride of America” Photo: NCL
“Pride of America”:
A dramatic shipbuilding saga is over
The completion and delivery in June of the 80,439 GT “Pride of America” was not just an American event; it was a very German one as well. It marked not only the end of one of the most dramatic cliff-edge shipbuilding sagas ever at Bremerhaven’s Lloyd Werft (LWB) – and there have been a few of those in recent years – but it also once again underscored the flexibility and competence of German shipbuilding, particularly when it is under pressure.
It also put the American cruise ship back in the limelight. Very much the “all-American” ship, and indeed the first passenger liner to fly the US flag in 50 years, the EUR 330 million "Pride of America" is regarded as an American built ship and is undoubtedly so in spirit and style. Nonetheless, she is largely German-built and a unique hybrid.
The ship arrived at LWB as a semi-finished hull in late 2002 at what was to be just the start of a long, unique and sometimes bizarre, newbuilding, conversion, repair and restoration process – all at the same shipyard. The hull was towed across the Atlantic from Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, in the US, after the former owner American Classic Voyages went bankrupt and cancelled the order. NCL stepped in buying the hull and a lot of other structural sections.
The hull was first cut and a new midship section inserted to lengthen the ship by about 25 metres to 280 metres. That process was completed without incident by November 2003, when the ship was floated out ready for outfitting, completion and handover in April 2004.
In December 2003 and in early January 2004, the ship’s six Wärtsilä Type 8L46C main engines were taken into operation in the engine room, now larger because of the lengthening, after two more of the units had been added to the four originally installed in America.
The engines, each of 8,400 kW, deliver a combined 50,400 kW.
At that point, in mid January 2004, the berthed Pride heeled at her berth during a storm and appears to have taken on water through assembly openings low in the hull which were tipped below the water line during heeling. The ship settled on the bottom of the LWB harbour nine metres below with three decks and parts of the fourth under water.
New plant destroyed
The accident destroyed new plant and fittings. As well as all the ship’s interiors, technical plant and equipment, the entire new engine room was also flooded, and with it the six main engines which had been brought to operational standard just days before.
It left hundreds of millions of Euros of damage and sparked an insurance claim which was the biggest construction damage claim in German history and which, reports said, finally totalled some EUR 150 million and also left LWB with a penalty to pay of about EUR 30 million for late delivery.
It was a catastrophic reversal for the project, since it was uncertain at that time whether the work would continue or be scrapped, but also for the yard, since owners NCL were no longer making building instalment payments. LWB faced bankruptcy, not for the first time in its history, but survived again, as it did in the days of Bremer Vulkan, with the support of loyal clients, creditors and subcontractors, and turned the disaster into a major repair, restoration and completion job.
"Pride of America" was pumped out and raised mid February – when Wärtsilä engineers actually started all six engines again, despite a month under water.
The ship was towed to LWB’s Kaiser Dock for drying and inspection.
Negotiations with 60 companies
The decision to repair, restore and complete Pride of America after all, came in July 2004 after six months of difficult negotiations with the owner and more than 60 international insurance companies. All six main engines were overhauled and re-started in February and all the vessels’ SAM electrics and electronics were also replaced before the ship undertook trials in May and was ready for delivery mid year.
The mechanical achievements after the sinking were described later as “a technical masterpiece”. At the same time the work also demonstrated the extraordinary ability of LWB to switch directions successfully in mid stream. The yard, along with owners and insurers, also had to walk a financial tight rope to stay afloat and ensure completion and delivery.
About two and a half year after she arrived in Germany and about one and a half years since she settled on the harbour bottom at LWB, Pride of America, Lloyd Werft’s biggest, but also its most difficult, project ever finally went to sea. “I knew all along that we could do it”, said LWB Managing Director Werner Lüken.
Pride of America is an imposing, solid vessel, with 15 guest decks, and her eye-catching stars and stripes hull artwork is also impressive.
Her Freestyle Cruising Concept is designed to reflect “the American way of life” for its up to 2,146 passengers in 1,073 guest cabins.
Amenities, with typically American decor and all with different American themes from the Alaskan Gold Rush saloon to the Cadillac Diner, include two main restaurants, six speciality restaurants, nine bars and lounges, a big theatre as well as two swimming and four whirl pools, a spa and fitness centre, a tennis court, jogging circuit, basket ball field and golf facility.
Also impressive is the ships eye-catching stars and stripes hull art work
On the technical side, and apart from the tough engines already mentioned, Pride of America also boasts three generators each of 8,167 kW for powering two Mermaid podded drives, each of 12.5 MW which supplied 22.2 knots during sea trials. Three bow thrusters each of 2,460 kW, are also installed to improve manoeuvrability.
//Tom Todd
Facts /Pride of America
Gross tonnage 80,439
L.o.a. 280 m
Breadth 32.20 m
Draught 8 m
Propulsion: 6 x Wärtsilä 8L46C main engines, each 8,400 kW, total 50,400 kW, 3 x diesel gens. each of 8,167 kW, 2 x Mermaid pods each of 12.5 MW
Speed (trials): 22.2 knots
Capacity: 2,146 passengers (double occupancy), maximum 3,236, 1,073 guest cabins, 660 with balcony
Latest update 18-10-2006 8:49
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