Meyer Werft Papenburg

Photo: M.Lenk

Meyer Werft in Papenburg developed from a regional shipbuilder into a manufacturer of large passenger and cruise ships. Its history encompasses a range of shipbuilding projects: cargo ships for the Ems, fishing and pilot boats, ferries and, later, cruise ships.

Shipbuilding since 1795

The shipyard was founded in Papenburg in 1795. During its first decades, it built wooden cargo ships that transported peat from the Emsland along the Ems. In 1872, Meyer Werft built the iron steamer Triton. In the 20th century, its range of vessels included fishing trawlers, pilot boats and passenger ships for coastal routes. Gas tankers were added from the middle of the century.

In 1964, the shipyard delivered the car and passenger ferry Malmö. It was deployed on the Kastrup–Malmö route. In addition to ferries of this kind, the shipyard later added RoRo ships, cruise ferries and livestock carriers to its range.

Cruise ships from Papenburg

In 1986, Meyer Werft embarked on its first major cruise ship project with the Homeric for Home Lines. Ships for various cruise lines followed over the ensuing decades. Ships built in Papenburg include the Norwegian Jewel, the Celebrity Solstice and the Celebrity Equinox. The construction of these ships belongs to a later phase in the history of the Papenburg shipyard than its early cargo and coastal vessels.

Two large covered building halls are among the shipyard’s technical facilities. They allow ships to be built independently of immediate weather conditions. The halls also make it possible to work on several projects in protected work areas. Ships built in Papenburg leave the shipyard via the Ems, heading towards the North Sea. Papenburg is located in the Emsland.

Project Sunshine and the Quantum class

On February 14, 2011, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Meyer Werft signed a preliminary agreement for a new ship under the project name Sunshine, with an option for a second ship. When construction began in 2013, the two ships were named Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas. Meyer Werft delivered Quantum of the Seas in October 2014 and Anthem of the Seas in spring 2015. The project initially announced as Sunshine thus became the Quantum class.