Norwegian Breakaway, the largest cruise ship to ever be built in Germany, has departed the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, for her approximately 24-hour long passage along the Ems River and has arrived in Eemshaven.

In preparation for the ship’s passage, stern first, the Nautical Operations teams from both Meyer Werft and Norwegian trained and practiced the precise manoeuvres for the past several months, utilising high tech simulators and detailed schematics. Norwegian Breakaway presented the most challenging conveyance ever, as the ship required precise manoeuvres in order to navigate through extremely narrow passages, with less than two metres clearance on either side of the vessel, Norwegian said in a statement.

“Before reaching her final destination in Eemshaven, Netherlands early Thursday morning, heading toward the North Sea, Norwegian Breakaway passed through additional narrow passages including the locks in Papenburg, which allow only 1.5 metre clearance on either side; Weener Bridge in Weener; Jann-Berghaus Bridge in Leer; and Ems-Barrier in Gandersum,” the company said.