History in the Making revised -- Part 2 - Construction II

ORIANA takes shape

Within 2 months of the keel laying ORIANA soon began to take on her distinctive lines at the mid ships area the hull was already at deck 6 out of the eventual 14, the fast construction time was due to the a for mentioned prefabrication of modern shipbuilding with the blocks of the ship being constructed next to the building dock then when ready being lowered and welded into place.
In theory the blocks could be of any size, the limiting factor being the load limit of the overhead cranes  around 700 to 800 tons, the majority of blocks for ORIANA weighed around 450-500 tons.
In the case of ORIANA the ship is made up from 45 such blocks as seen below, the last of these blocks would be the funnel.

The heaviest block would be number 16 weighing in at 722 tons which would eventually house the main engines.
During this phase of construction in order to prepare for the later fitting out stage the spaces to allow for cabling, pipes and ducting etc. were pre cut.

Construction continues. The main engines are lifted into place.

While ORIANA herself grew at a fast rate in her birthplace other vital components also were coming together in other locations in Europe.
These included the ships stabilisers at the time the largest ever built.

ORIANA's stabilisers being checked.

The ships stabilisers work like aircraft wings extending out from the hull beneath the waterline during rough sea conditions they adjust their position to counteract the effect the waves effects on the hull.
Built by Brown Brothers of Edinburgh the company had over 120 years experience in marine engineering, before the development of stabilisers it had specialised in steering equipment among those it has built for were White Star’s famous Olympic class liners and French lines legendary NORMANDIE before building the first stabilisers in the 1930's.
The stabilisers journey from the factory to the docks in Leith ready for the voyage to Papenburg created quite a stir as they prepared to set sail for the first time.

  Other components being constructed and bring shipped to Papenburg included the sanitation system and onboard pumps all being supplied by Hamworthy engineering from Poole, Dorset on the south coast, the heat reclaim boiler from Senior Thermal engineering in Wakefield, Yorkshire, and from Italy the ship's 15 watertight doors.
By July 1993 ORIANA had reached ten decks in height at the mid ship area and work began on the installation of sections of the air-conditioning system.

Various components arrive while construction continues.

The forward section of decks 7,8 and 9 are lowered into place.

At 8 decks in height.

At 10 decks in height.

As ORIANA’ hull began to take on its final form many of the ships unique interior features including the statue and statuettes that adorn Harlequins dance venue and the wall mural in the Lords Tavern were being made ready, all being masterfully created by artists, Sculptors and metal workers, ORIANA would soon take her place as a interior work of art as well as a engineering triumph.

Artist Janet Shearer works on the Lords Tavern mural.

Sculptor John Mills at work on the Harlequin entrance statue.

  By April 1994 87% of ORIANA’s structure had been completed along with much of the pre-fitting out.
 On the 8th April one year and one day from her Maiden Voyage  Lord Sterling made his first visit to the yard to have detailed look at how the work was progressing and how ORIANA was shapeing up, as well as walking through her incomplete hull he also toured mock ups of her various rooms to give his input and opinions.

By May 92% of her steel was in place and the construction showed no signs of slowing down and work on her interiors was also well underway

After another 3 months of construction ORIANA was at last ready to make her first brief appearance into the outside world.
With final adjustments underway and many locals waiting to see their latest Masterpiece, Meyer Werft prepared for the first time to flood the building dock which until now had been ORIANAs home.
Soon ORIANA would take to her natural element and a famous name would float again.

Photo Copyright: P&O Cruises & Meyer Werft