NCL F3 Lives!

After months of uncertainty as to the future of the NCL F3 project (NCL's next generation of mega-ships), NCL and STX Shipyards today announced they have reached an agreement which would allow the project to go forward to completion.

Back in September, the future of the ship was put in doubt (Is the F3 in Trouble?). Since then, the rumours as to the disagreement have been flying - is it that Apollo Management, the owner of NCL, wanted more input? What aspects of the design were objectionable?

We got a hint a couple days ago when NCL signed a 10-year agreement with the Port of Miami that there might still be a future of the F3 project. One of the provisions hidden in the agreement text was a commitment by the Port of Miami to make adjustments to the pier facilities should they be necessary to accommodate a F3 ship.

And now today we get the agreement. NCL and STX Europe (formerly Aker Shipyards) have agreed to revise the original F3 order. STX France Cruise is now building one F3 ship at 150,000-tons with a total of 4,200 passenger berths, representing the largest ship in NCL’s fleet. This will mean a continuation of the original hull which is currently in the early phases of construction, with delivery set for late May 2010, as originally scheduled. The planned second vessel, currently only in the preparatory stages, will not be built. Further terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“With this agreement, we can all focus on completing the new vessel successfully,” said Kevin Sheehan, NCL’s president and CEO. “We are looking forward to the arrival of our much-anticipated F3 ship as it represents a major step forward for NCL in terms of ship size, design and innovation.”

“We are pleased that the ongoing construction of the ship for NCL will continue. We, along with our subcontractors, will now make the necessary adjustments to our plans for this project," said Jacques Hardelay, president of STX France Cruise SA.

To date, information has only been revealed regarding F3’s staterooms and nightlife. NCL plans to unveil the full F3 story in the near future. Further information can be found online at http://www.f3.ncl.com/.

In other words, the F3 will be an oddity in contemporary cruise building - a one-of ship. Interesting! I'm sure we'll get more information as time goes on.

Is NCL's F3 Project In Trouble?

There are several reports out today that Aker Shipyards and NCL Corporation have hit a snag in the construction of the new F3 project ships.

According to reports, NCL and Aker shipyard are in a legal dispute about the first of the vessels which, at 150,000 tons, is 60 percent larger than the line's existing ships. Some reports even have NCL informing employees that the first F3 ship has been cancelled, though the entire project may go forward with later ships still in the earlier stages of development.

The first of the 4,200-passenger F3 ships was slated for delivery in March 2010. Seatrade Insider reported Sept. 19 that Aker is shopping around the F3 project, for which the keel was laid in April. The yard approached Carnival Corp., Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and MSC Cruises, Seatrade reported. The problems with the $2 billion F3 project apparently center on the cost of major changes in the prototype. NCL had promised the ship would be unlike any other, with no main restaurant, no main show lounge and no Lido café. The “New Wave” staterooms have curved walls. The company’s last major announcement on the ship revealed plans for an ice bar and other hip nightlife venues more akin to South Beach or Las Vegas. But the ship’s differences could make it difficult for another company to pick up the prototype without making major changes.

While building the ships is a challenge in itself, the 50 percent sale of NCL to Apollo Management last August seems to have added to the hindrance, with Apollo wanting more of a voice in design implementation. NCL said it had no comment on the issue.

I'll stay on top of this, of course, and report back when there is new, more concrete information.