P&O Iona the latest addition to the P&O Cruises fleet has completed another construction milestone today. According to a press release from the German Shipyard Meyer Werft, P&O Iona was undocked successfully from covered building dock II, into the harbor basin and moored at the equipment quay.

P&O Iona will remain in the shipyard until the transfer from the River Ems, which is expected to take place at the end of March. In the meantime, the interior is being completed and technical tests of the on-board systems are taking place.

With a length of 337 meters and capacity for 5,200 passengers IONA will be the largest cruise liner in the P&O fleet, and one of the largest cruise ships in the world. The ship was named after the Scottish island IONA, which is known for its picturesque landscape.

Iona is the first of two Helios Class cruise ships being built by Meyer Werft for the British Cruise Line P&O Cruises. The second cruise liner is expected to be delivered in mid-2022.

Once operational, Iona will be one of the few environmentally-friendly ships to be fully powered by (LNG) liquefied natural gas. The ship will have a reduced carbon footprint with zero sulphur and nitrogen emissions.

Photo courtesy: Jeroen Van Roijen