SeaDream Yacht Club, the US based operator of two 4,200 gross ton cruise yachts, and the Dutch shipbuilding group Damen have decided not to proceed with the building of a15,600 gross ton ship for SeaDream. “Both parties are open to potential future projects and collaboration. The new ship, SeaDream Innovation, was scheduled to be delivered in September of 2021,” SeaDream said in a statement.
“The response from our past guests and the market in general has been overwhelming, despite the ship not being scheduled for delivery for almost two years,” said Andreas Brynestad, Executive Vice President. “Since the ship will not be delivered, all booked guests will be contacted and issued full refunds in the coming days.”
SeaDream is actively pursuing other newbuild opportunities. Atle Brynestad, SeaDream Owner and Chairman, said, “The company has been debt free for several years and has the equity needed to expand the fleet. We hope to announce a new ship in 2020.”
The existing two ships, SeaDream I and II that were both built in Finland in the mid-1980s, continue performing well, with the company seeing record revenue years. Current plans of refurbishing the suites on SeaDream I and II will proceed as previously announced and planned – starting with SeaDream II in spring 2020.
The Damen group has set up a unit in Helsinki, Finland, to facilitate its break into the cruise ship building business. The now canceled SeaDream Innovation was the first cruise liner newbuilding contract for the company.
Damen offers a wide range of products that ranges from luxury yachts to ferries and naval vessels. It has also a foothold in the cruise ship refurbishment sector.
