Kvaerner Makes Preliminary Agreement

Kvaerner reaches preliminary agreement with Canyon Ranch to build two luxury cruise ships, worth $397 million. Kvaerner, announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the health resort company Canyon Ranch, of Tucson, Ariz., to build two luxury spa/health resort cruise ships. The two passenger vessels, each of about, 37,000 gross tons, are to be built by Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Finland, and are due for delivery in 2004 and 2005, respectively. A final contract is subject to the satisfactory completion of certain conditions, including financing by Canyon Ranch.