KMY Wins Two-Ship Order From RCL

Kvaerner Masa Yards won a $1.09 billion contract to build two ships for Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL). The Eagle-type cruise ships are scheduled to be ready for delivery in 2002 and 2003. "The intentional agreement has been signed under the conditions that the yard can finance construction of the ships," Kvaerner said. "Even though Kvaerner has decided to pull out of shipbuilding and concentrate its operations in other fields -- and the process to find a new ownership structure for Kvaerner Masa Yards is ongoing-- we welcome the deal," Kvaerner Chief Executive Kjell Almskog said. Almskog said the deal boosted the yard's current order book to 19.9 billion crowns from 10.8 billion crowns. "Such an order book will secure the yard in years ahead, independently of ownership structure," Almskog said.