Neptun Werft ramps up Viking Longship production
Meyer’s Neptun Werft shipyard has laid the keel for 10 new river ships, continuing the successful series of 65 ships for Viking.
Nine new river ships include one ship for the Seine and eight ships from the well-known Longship series. A further Seine ship was commissioned back in February 2023 and they’ll all be ready for Viking by 2026.
“With their hybrid system, the ships are among the most environmentally friendly on Europe’s rivers. Their successful use on the ships already delivered was a decisive reason for Viking to once again rely on the Meyer Group for construction,” said Jan Meyer, who will head Neptun Werft as chief business innovation officer in the future.
Hybrid power
While the Longships are 135 metres long, the ships for the Seine are based on the “shortened” Longships Viking Kari, Viking Radgrid, Viking Skaga and Viking Fjorgyn already built for Viking.
The new ships will be equipped with a hybrid system consisting of a diesel-electric drive and a battery system. This will absorb peak loads and save a considerable amount of fuel.
Viking’s Longships are being designed for the first time at the yard using a new PLM system, a combined solution of Catia V6 and Cadmatic. They will also feature a number of technical innovations, such as a compact system for wastewater treatment.
Neptun Werft has a well-filled order book with 10 river cruise ships, two naval fuel supply vessels and parts of the METEOR IV research vessel, which extends into 2026.
Back in November, the yard announced that it is also planning to enter a construction project for offshore converter platforms together with the Belgian company Smulders.
It set up a joint engineering venture called Neptun Smulders especially for the project. These platforms will also be built at Neptune Werft in the future.
