Celebration’s sea trials started on Monday 5 September, 15 minutes ahead of schedule which we should have taken as an omen of how the trials would go! The trials were planned to take place over 10 days but everything was completed ahead of schedule with the ship returning to Turku on the evening of Monday 12 September.
Starting off in the Turku Archipelago in an area called Airisto, a number of tests were completed including the rescue boat 5kn test, the anchoring test and the lowering of the life boats on the port side. After that the ship sailed between Finland, Sweden and Estonia.
There were over 1,000 people onboard for the sea trials, a mixture of outfitting contractors, CCL crew members and of course our own Corporate Shipbuilding representatives. The majority of the Turku site team were onboard, supported by colleagues from our Italian site teams as well as the technical and contract management departments, a real team effort.
Massimo Giovanelli, Deputy Building Manager for Turku shares his thoughts on how the trials went:
“I was really pleased with how well the sea trials went for celebration. We achieved all the necessary tests, finished sooner than expected and with no need for a second trial.
We of course experienced a few small hiccups along the way but these challenges were solved with great collaboration of all parties involved. We were also able to use the time at sea to continue with the inspections of both the public areas and the cabins, with the first crew cabins being handed over too.
A highlight of the trial was being able to arrange a surprise birthday party for Robert Eklund who turned 60 whilst we were away. He was even presented with his own sea trial hat by Meyer Turku!”
Huge congratulations to everyone involved, we’re all looking forward to a strong and smooth delivery in early November.