Meyer Group, the parent company of shipbuilder Meyer Werft, has unveiled its latest floating real estate concept: modular designs for floating cruise terminals. Seeking to diversify its activities in the wake of the pandemic, Meyer last year launched a new company within the group called Meyer Floating Solutions.
Based in Turku, Finland, Meyer Floating Solutions is focused on developing new solutions using floating real estate that can leverage the shipbuilding group’s construction capabilities. The company was first announced in March 2022, when it was formed and rebranded as Admares Marine, a spin-off from modular construction company Admares Group. Some of the first concepts they have unveiled include an overwater terrace extension for Dubai, as well as floating villa and hotel concepts.
Ports, they explain, face a growing challenge in developing berthing capacity to meet demand. The world’s leading ports have in many cases been able to partner with the leading cruise lines to develop new terminals. Meyer Floating Solutions believes its concept can meet the needs of smaller ports and those that lack the significant infrastructure required to develop new terminals.
They believe it is an approach that can redefine port development with a focus on sustainability and flexibility. The floating terminal concept offers the versatility to expand or relocate terminals as needed by using floating modular construction and adaptable modules.
The modules would be built at one of the group’s three shipyards and then moved to the port for deployment. The approach streamlines pier systems that would minimise disruption to both onshore infrastructure and the natural environment. Once in place, they would be secured with devices such as mooring dolphins and fixed moorings.
Meyer points out that it is fully adaptable to provide complex terminals with up to three piers capable of accommodating multiple vessels simultaneously. They envisage a length for the piers of approximately 670 to 1,050 feet. The footprint for the terminal would be approximately 1,345 feet long and 870 feet wide. The modules could house hotels, parking facilities, energy supply centres or shopping complexes.
The floating terminal is the latest in a series of concepts presented by Meyer Floating Solutions. They have also offered a concept for a floating hospital. Unlike full-size hospital ships, which are costly and require full port facilities, the floating hospital would be able to reach remote areas and locations with shallow archipelagos. Meyer highlights that the floating hospital could be used for emergency response or to provide full hospital services to new locations.
The Meyer Group recently announced a reorganisation of its management as it continues to look for ways to diversify away from its focus on cruise ship construction. New business concepts, such as Meyer Floating Solutions, are one of the elements being pursued for the future of the company.
