The video below is still fascinating: it shows the Norwegian cruise ship Balmoral Cut in two in a dry dock in Hamburg, a 30-meter section was slid between the two halves, then the whole thing was welded back together before returning to sea. Completed in 2007 by the shipyard Blohm & VossThis "stretching" operation added 186 passengers, 56 crew members, 60 balconies and new public spaces to a ship launched in 1988. In other words, a complete upgrade for a more demanding British market.
Time-lapse of the operation (YouTube) :
Why cut a ship in two?
Extending a cruise ship remains, on paper, more economical than building a new hull. The shipowner gains additional cabins and improves the revenue per passenger without starting from scratch. In the case of the BalmoralThe operation took just under two months: cutting with a blowtorch, insertion of the prefabricated block, welding, repair of the pipes and cables, then painting. The ship returned to sea with 1 passengers instead of 1,164 and a total length increased to 218 m.
Extension practices since 2010: still relevant, but more selective
- 2018: Silver Spirit (Silversea Cruises) receives a 15m stretch in Palermo, gaining 34 suites and two restaurants.
- 2020: Star Breeze (Windstar) suffers the same fate at the Fincantieri shipyards: +25 m and 100 additional cabins.
- 2024: Stena Line is lengthening two E-Flexer ferries by 42m to absorb freight and passenger traffic between the UK and Northern Ireland.
In 2026, the technology will still exist but will be limited to newer ships, designed from the outset to accept a central "plug-in". Older hulls, designed before the new stability and emissions standards, are rarely considered cost-effective to modify.
An engineering legacy that remains impressive
Le Balmoral remains a historical example of what can be achieved when one must adapt a ship existing in a rapidly changing market. Thirteen years later, the method remains relevant but is subject to stricter environmental and economic constraints. If you see a ship in dry dock today, understand that the challenge is not simply to reweld the steel: it also involves reviewing the entire energy system, recalibrating safety systems, and ensuring that the vessel will still be able to be berth at the dock.
The fact remains that these images of "sausage-like" cutting are reminiscent of the creativity of naval engineering: when you can't build bigger, you can sometimes... lengthen what already exists.
