The River Ems will be closed to shipping between Papenburg and Leerort, including the Ems barrage at Gandersum, from 9 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17. The closure is to facilitate the transfer of the new cruise ship, the “Disney Destiny,” from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg to the North Sea.
To ensure safe passage for the 340-meter-long vessel, the river will be dammed to raise the water level. According to the Ems-North Sea Waterways and Shipping Office, the “Disney Destiny” is scheduled to begin its journey at approximately 9 p.m. on Thursday, September 18. It is expected to pass the Jann Berghaus Bridge in Leer at 5 a.m. the following morning and reach the Gandersum barrage at 12 noon on Friday, September 19.
The 144,000-tonne ship, which has a restricted draught, will be guided by tugboats and escorted by official authority vehicles. The waterway is scheduled to reopen immediately after the vessel has passed the barrage. The Ems-Traffic control center will provide real-time updates on the closure times via VHF radio. Should unforeseen circumstances lead to a postponement, a new date will be announced at short notice.
The “Disney Destiny” is the third of five Wish-class cruise ships ordered by Disney Cruise Line from Meyer Werft. The first two sister ships have already been delivered, and the final vessel is scheduled for completion in 2029. All ships in the class are powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and feature 1,250 cabins across ten passenger decks.
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