The construction progress of the Silver Ray for Silversea Cruises has reached a significant milestone at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg. The sister ship of the Silver Nova, the Silver Ray is set to depart from the shipyard's construction dock this Sunday.

According to an announcement made by the shipyard, the unveiling of the new vessel will commence at approximately 11:30 a.m., as it maneuvers out of the smaller of the two enclosed shipbuilding facilities at Meyer Werft. Subsequently, the new cruise ship will be berthed at the equipment pier within the shipyard's port. During the undocking the installation of the LNG bunker mast onto the new cruise ship will take place, followed by the placement of the funnel on the equipment pier by early Sunday evening.

Preceding the departure of the Silver Ray, a section of the engine room designated for the cruise ship Asuka III of the Japanese company NYK Cruises will be relocated from the hall starting from 8 a.m. on Sunday, allowing for the clearance necessary for the Silver Ray's departure. Subsequently, this unit will be repositioned back into the hall.

Onlookers in Papenburg can witness the Silver Ray's brief inaugural departure on Sunday morning, during which initial tests on bow thrusters and stabilizers will be conducted. Following this phase, additional time will be needed for interior work before the Silver Ray is slated to embark on its journey over the Ems River towards the North Sea. Upon completion of nautical and technical trial voyages on the open seas, the vessel will be delivered to Silversea Cruises.

The Silver Ray and its sister ship represent pioneering vessels in the cruise industry, being the first to integrate liquefied natural gas (LNG), a fuel cell system for the entire hotel operation, and batteries. As stated by Meyer Werft, these new ships incorporate the most advanced measures to mitigate emissions. The collaborative development of this technology involved Meyer Werft, Freudenberg e Power Systems, and the shipping company. Additionally, the utilization of a fuel cell system enables the operation of a cruise ship in port environments with zero emissions.