The world’s largest cruise liner, worth more than 40 billion hryvnias, will be sold for scrap, without having made a single flight. We are talking about the Global Dream II, which has no analogs in the world in terms of size, equipment and capacity. The reason is the bankruptcy of the shipyard due to the coronavirus pandemic, which caused enormous damage to the tourism sector, and the lack of buyers for the megaliner.
With the capacity to carry a whopping 9,000 passengers, the Global Dream II was to be an incredible sight for tourists and the largest cruise liner in the world by passenger capacity. It surpasses Wonder of the Seas, which currently holds the record for the largest cruise ship. For comparison: in terms of capacity, Wonder of the Seas can take on board an impressive 6,988 passengers.
The reason this huge ship is being sent straight to the scrapyard is because of its enormous cost. According to reports, the construction cost 40 billion hryvnias. The ship was built by the German-Hong Kong firm MV Werften, which filed for bankruptcy in January 2022, just as the ship’s construction was coming to an end. We will remind you that the cruise sector suffered the most from the coronavirus pandemic.
Now, if a buyer is not found, the giant vessel will be sent for disposal. The ship’s engine and some other parts will be sold off. However, the lower hull, that is, the ship’s hull, will be auctioned for scrap metal.
The same fate may befall the first twin ship Global Dream if it is not redeemed. Both Global Dreams liners are currently at a German shipyard, which will now be used for the construction of warships. The maturity of Global Dream and Global Dream II is until 2023.
As Express explained, the first Global Dream ship is in a better position to buy because its construction began in 2018, a year earlier than its Global Dream II sibling. But why are buyers reluctant to consider two cruise liners? This is probably because they were previously designed for the Asian cruise market. This means that they must undergo major modifications to be suitable for use in Europe or North America. Analysts also suggested that while there is hope that the incredible liners will find a buyer and an operator, demand for cruise liners has fallen.