Many a dream ship has been brought into the world in Papenburg. The Meyer shipyard builds luxury cruise liners in two enormous halls. The ocean-going giants can be almost 300 metres long and more than 12 stories high. The launching of a cruise ship up to the North Sea is always a huge event with a party atmosphere. Thousands of people follow the action as the ocean-going giants are towed out of the dock onto the River Ems.

Ship building à la Lego

From the panorama window of the visitors' centre, you can follow the creation of a ship from bow to stern - the shipyard experience in wide-screen format! The Meyer is well known for its use of the “Lego method” - the individual sections of the huge ships are first built separately, before being cabled together and welded. A total of 18 magnificent cruise liners have so far been built and launched in Papenburg. Specialising in these “floating towns” for many thousands of people has ensured the survival of the Meyer shipyard, at one time one of 23 shipyards in Papenburg. Currently the “JEWEL OF THE SEAS“ and the cruise liner "PONT-AVEN" are under construction. The ships are due for delivery in February (Pont-Aven) and April (Jewel of the Seas) 2004.

The Ems barrier keeping water under the hull.

The transportation of a finished cruise ship up to the North Sea is always an event with a party atmosphere. Thousands of people collect on the banks as the ocean-going giants seem to plough through the East Friesian meadows, towering over the Friesian cows, along the Ems towards Emden. This trip is only possible as a result of the huge Ems barrier construction, which allows the water level in the river to be raised by 2.70 metres. The barrier, completed in 2002, also acts to protect the area from flooding.

Contact:

Touristinformation im Papenburger Zeitspeicher
Ölmühlenweg 21
26871 Papenburg
(German)

+49 (0) 4961 / 83960
+49 (0) 4961 / 839696

info@papenburg-tourismus.de
http://www.papenburg-touristik.de/

• Meyer Shipyard (German)
• Ems Barrier (German)

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