Royal Caribbean Floats Out Independence of the Seas

In less than a year, Royal Caribbean International's Independence of the Seas will make its debut in Southampton, England where she will be the largest ship ever to be home-ported in Europe. With her hull now complete, Independence of the Seas, under construction at Aker Yards in Turku, Finland, reached an important maritime milestone today when she was "floated out" -- moved from dry dock to wet dock -- for the final months of finishing work leading up to her May 2008 debut.

At official ceremonies held at the shipyard, Royal Caribbean executives, Harri Kulovaara, executive vice president, Maritime; Lisa Bauer, senior vice president, Sales, and Captain Hernan Zini were joined by Juha Heikinheimo, president, Aker Yards Cruise and Ferries, and Jykri Heinamaa, Turku Yard Director, Aker Yards, as well as an exclusive group of Royal Caribbean's travel partners, to turn the valve releasing 87 million gallons of water into the wet dock area.