Norwegian Cruise Line Takes
"Project America" Hull to Sea
 Miami,
November 11, 2002 - The first ship of the two vessel "ProjectAmerica"
shipbuilding program tasted the open ocean last week, partially
completed and towed by a powerful tug. The hull, plus the
materials and equipment needed to complete her, plus all the
work in progress and materials for the second ship, are on
their way to Europe from the Northrop Grumman Ship Systems
Ingalls yard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. (A high-resolution
photograph of the hull is available on line at: http://www.ncl.com/hires/pages/new_ship1.htm
The
new owner, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), is in advanced discussions
with Lloyd Werft in Germany to complete the ship. Lloyd Werft
supervised the removal and towing of the hull and materials
on Tuesday, November 5, 2002. In August, NCL contracted with
Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (NGSS) to buy all of the materials
and equipment and the work performed to date on the two "Project
America" vessels.
The
original design of the first "Project America" ship
has been modified and will sail under the NCL brand as the
latest addition to the company's revolutionary Freestyle Cruising
fleet. The yet-to-be-named vessel will be delivered in Spring
2004 and will be the fourth new ship for NCL in as many years.
Once
the completion of the first vessel is under way, NCL will
explore the feasibility of completing the second vessel based
on the work in progress and materials that have been purchased
as part of the deal with NGSS.
Miami-based
Norwegian Cruise Line is an international cruise company and
industry innovator that operates a fleet of nine ships sailing
to more than 140 ports around the world.
For
further information on NCL, contact a travel agent or NCL
in the U.S. and Canada at (800) 327-7030; in Miami-Dade County,
Fla., (305) 436-0866; visit NCL's web site at www.ncl.com;
or on AOL at keyword: NCL; or to download high resolution
photography, visit www.ncl.com/hires.
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