Harmony of the Seas Put to the Test

STX France Royal Caribbeans third Oasis-class cruise ship Harmony of the Seas will be put through its paces in the next three days as it is scheduled to depart STX Frances shipyard later today on its first sea trials. The vessel, currently under construction in Saint-Nazaire, will test its electric power plant and propulsion system, as well as conduct manoeuvrability tests. Harmony of the Seas, which will bring 500 people on this journey, is expected to return to the shipyard on March 13. The next sea trials are supposed to be held before the end of April, according to the shipbuilder. Soon to be one of the worlds largest cruise ships, Harmony of the Seas will be able to accommodate 5,479 guests at double occupancy. Featuring a weight of 227,000 gross registered tons and a length of 1,187 feet, the vessels maximum cruising speed will be 23 knots. Harmony of the Seas will sail the Western Mediterranean from Barcelona, Spain during its inaugural season before arriving at its homeport of Fort Lauderdale, Florida in November 2016 from where it will sail the Caribbean. The vessel is scheduled to debut in April. World Maritime News Staff