"Britannia" Arrives Tomorrow for Its First Stop in La Palma

The megaship "Britannia" has two scheduled stops this year at the port of Santa Cruz de La Palma. The first is tomorrow, Saturday, May 21, when it will arrive for the first time, and the second on June 11. Today, it is docked at the port of Funchal (Madeira) and is coming with a full house, meaning 4,300 passengers and nearly 1,400 crew members.

This is a ship whose presence does not go unnoticed. The brand new "Britannia" is P & O Cruises' bet for its native market, bringing one of the most distinguished ships of recent years. In its makeover, besides the name and the two smokestacks painted blue, it displays the "Union Jack" on the bow, the ultimate expression of national pride.

The shipping company has revived an emblematic name in the naval history of the United Kingdom. The previous vessel that carried this name was the royal yacht "Britannia," which sailed for half a century and was decommissioned in 1997. In its first year of service alone, the new ship, registered at the port of Southampton, has visited 57 ports in 31 countries and sailed about 90,000 nautical miles.

On March 10, 2015, Queen Elizabeth II of England presided over the official naming ceremony. It had been twenty years since she also sponsored another P & O Cruises ship, which has long become a classic in the industry, called "Oriana."

Construction number 6,321 from the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone (Italy), the new "Britannia" was ordered in 2011, and on May 15, 2013, the first block of its keel was laid. The announcement of its new name was made public on September 24, causing a sensation in British and Commonwealth public opinion.

It first floated on February 14, 2014, and was delivered to its owners on February 26, 2015. The ship is commanded by Captain Paul Brown, who, prior to his appointment, was the captain of the ship "Azura." The final cost has risen to £473 million. P & O Cruises is a company of the American group Carnival Corporation plc, which also owns Cunard Line, its eternal competitor.

It is a ship of 143,730 gross tons with a total length of 330 m, a beam of 38.38 m, a draft of 8.30 m, and a height from keel to mast of 68.30 m. It is powered by a diesel-electric system that totals 62,400 kW and allows it to maintain a cruising speed of 20 knots. In addition to the propeller screws, it has three transverse thrusters at the bow and the same number at the stern for maneuvering. It can accommodate a maximum of 4,324 passengers and a crew, from captain to page, of 1,398 people. IMO Code 9614036.

Photo: Juan Carlos Díaz Lorenzo