The UK, US and China compete for the fourth Oasis class vessel of Royal Caribbean International Travel Weekly reported in a newsletter, currently referred to as Oasis 4.

“There is a massive global skirmish going on at the moment over Oasis 4. It’s hellish for me because I’m the key decision maker and when I make the decision everyone who hasn’t got the ship is going to be disappointed with me. It’s pretty comical,” Michael Bayley, President and CEO of the company was quoted by Travel weekly as saying.

“The battleground features three key characters – the USA, China and the UK,” he added. The vessel is due for delivery in 2018. Asked whether he thought the UK market could fill a ship of that size, Bayley said: “Absolutely, I believe it can.”

Royal Caribbean International currently has Independence of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas based in Southampton. The company is the contemporary market unit of Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. (RCCL).