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Minerva arrives at Lloyd Werft for extensive upgrade

Minerva arrives at Lloyd Werft for extensive upgrade
Swan Hellenic’s Minerva arrived at Lloyd Werft today to begin an extensive 83-day conversion that includes technical upgrades, the addition of balconies, the enlargement of suites and other work.

For Lloyd Werft md Rüdiger Pallentin, this comprehensive job shows the ‘competence of Lloyd Werft in complex specialised shipbuilding.’

The work includes the expansion and widening of Deck 9, which will get a new superstructure, and the enlargement of 20 suites on Deck 8 that will gain balconies. A dozen cabins are also adding balconies.

On Deck 5, six cabins are giving way to a new Beauty Centre and Fitness Area. An on-board sauna is being removed so the area housing the Shackleton Bar can be extended. The promenade, Deck 8, is being lengthened to create more sunbathing areas.

Also scheduled are bathroom renovation and new air conditioning units in 150 standard cabins.

Two new crankshafts with propellers will be fitted while the ship is in dock. This work is being carried out in conjunction with the installation of a Rolls-Royce Promas integrated propeller and rudder system that optimises water flow between propellers and rudders to reduce fuel consumption. The stern thruster will be replaced with a new Voith unit.

The 12,499gt ship, owned by Arctica Adventure & Cruise Shipping Ltd. for operation by the UK’s All Leisure Group, previously sailed as Saga Pearl, Alexander von Humboldt and Explorer II. The vessel was built in 1996 by T. Mariotti.

On Feb. 27, Minerva—in new royal blue livery—is due to head back to Southampton to resume operations for Swan Hellenic.