The keel laying ceremony of the newbuild for the British P&O Cruises with ship number S. 710 was another milestone at MEYER WERFT in Papenburg, Germany.
It marked the official beginning for assembling the hull of the new luxury vessel for the United Kingdom. The newbuild Iona will be handed over to the client in spring 2020.
Traditional keel laying coins were placed by President P&O Cruises, Paul Ludlow, together with Executive Board Member Project Management MEYER WERFT, Stephan Schmees, and Project Leader MEYER WERFT, Jurgen Storz.
Block 1B measures 21.5 metres in length, 19.4 meters in width and 9.8 meters in height. It weighs 461 tons.
With her rating of over 180,000 GRT, P&O Iona will be the new flagship of the fleet. It is one of the first ever to be powered 100% by LNG.
Iona will be joined by a sistership (Arvia) in 2022.