17 Fall 2024 Proceedings Meyer Werft’s enclosed dry dock bay in Papenburg, Germany, allows for yearround construction. It is one of the largest facilities of its kind in the world and shields ships from rainy weather in Northern Europe. Coast Guard photo by LT Devin Greenwell Fincantieri, an Italian shipbuilding company, is one of the most prominent players in the global cruise ship industry. Founded in 1959, its history is intertwined with Italy’s rich shipbuilding heritage, with roots tracing back to the Romans and Venetians. It has become a leader in designing and building ships for many of the world’s major cruise lines such as Carnival, Holland America, Princess, and Cunard. Fincantieri’s reputation is built on its ability to deliver luxurious, technologically advanced, and environmentally friendly vessels. Its large-scale pro- duction capabilities enable it to manage multiple com- plex projects simultaneously.3 Meyer Werft is a shipbuilding company based in Papenburg, Germany, with a significant presence in the cruise ship industry. Founded in 1795, its history spans two centuries and is one of the oldest family-owned ship- yards in the world. In the 1970s, the company entered the cruise ship construction market and has built ves- sels for many prestigious cruise lines including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Disney. One of the hallmarks of the shipyard is its covered building dock, which is one of the largest in the world and allows for year-round con- struction regardless of Northern Europe’s notoriously rainy conditions. Meyer Werft’s success in the cruise ship industry is attributed to its commitment to quality, inno- vation, and a strong customer focus.4 Based in Saint-Nazaire, France, and founded in 1955, Chantiers de l’Atlantique is a prominent shipyard with a distinguished history in the cruise ship industry. Renowned for its expertise in building large, complex vessels, it has been a major contributor to the evolution of the modern cruise ship. The shipyard gained interna- tional acclaim for constructing some of the most iconic ocean liners of the 20th century and continues to solidify its position building some of the largest and most sophis- ticated cruise ships in the world. Notably, Chantiers de l’Atlantique has produced several record-breaking ships in terms of size and passenger capacity, continuing its reputation for pushing the boundaries of cruise ship design.5 There are other notable shipyards, including Meyer Turku of Finland, a subsidiary of Meyer Werft, which
