Amazing video shows Odyssey of the Seas being pulled VERY carefully out to sea along a river

It was not going to happen.

Amazing footage of the massive Odyssey of the Seas cruise boat being pulled from the shipyard to be taken out at sea shows her in all its glory.

In Papenburg Germany’s Meyer Werft shipyard, the fascinating ‘conveyance” video documents Royal Caribbean Quantum class cruise ships travelling up the River Ems towards the North Sea.

Amazing footage of the Odyssey of the Seas cruise vessel being pulled to the water shows it in action.

It takes over 10 hours to complete the 32km (20 mile) trip down the river. The ship passes through two bridges and then crosses the Emstunnel before finally passing through the Ems Barrier.

It is extremely narrow for a vessel of this size. Odyssey of the Seas measures 41.5m (135ft) in width and 347m (11,138ft) in length and weighs 167.704 gross tons.

Two tugboats of 9,000 HP each pull and push the ship. The video explains: ‘The faster she moves, the deeper the hull pushes into the water, so it’s important to move slowly.’

As the ship confronts its first obstacle, the Papenburg Lock, the video starts.

The ship is about to face its first challenge – getting out of the shipyard and passing through the Papenburg Lock.

For a vessel of such size, the river is extremely narrow and shallow. Odyssey of the Seas measures 41m (135.5ft) in width and 347m (3,138ft).

‘There’s almost no clearance on either side of the [Papenburg Lock] so rollers (pictured) are used to gently guide the ship through,’ the narrator explains

To pull and push the ship, two powerful tugboats with over 9,000 HP each are employed. 

‘There’s almost no clearance on either side of the lock so rollers are used to gently guide the ship through,’ the narrator explains. 

As the ship passes through the Weener Bridge, and then the Leer Bridge, there is very little clearance. You can see her squeeze between these structures, with some only inches apart. 

Odyssey of the Seas moves the swing Leer Bridge with a pace of only two or three knots.

Pictured: The passage of the ship through Leer Bridge is limited.

Odyssey of the Seas navigates the swing Leer Bridge in a walk pace of two to three knots 

Odyssey of the Seas traveling along such a small river is surreal. 

‘An experienced crew of local pilots help guide the way and manoeuvre the ship at all times,’ the narrator says

You can see above the Emstunnel crossing the Emstunnel. This is an Autobahn or motorway.

It is noted by the narrator that the ship has been steered backwards. This allows for greater maneuverability. 

‘An experienced crew of local pilots help guide the way and manoeuvre the ship at all times,’ the narrator says.

He says, “The conveyance has been carefully planned to coincide with the weather and tides.” The river’s highest point must be at the full moon or new moon. You need a wind speed that is less than 20 knots without gusts.

Odyssey of the Seas must pass the Ems barrier. This is the last obstacle. 

The ship passes the Emstunnel midway through its voyage. It is an automobile highway.

It is visible as a huge ship at the horizon. Traffic continues to flow on the autobahn in foreground.  

Odyssey of the Seas has to pass through the Ems Barrier at the end of the journey when the sea and river water levels match.

The narrator explained that this helps avoid strong currents. 

It can cruise at 22 knees but was originally scheduled to embark on her maiden voyage July 3. However, eight of the crew were found positive for coronavirus and it had to be rescheduled.

On July 31, she set sail from Port Everglades in Florida on an eight-day cruise through the Southern Caribbean. She stopped in Dutch Antilles, CocoCay, and the Bahamas. 

MailOnline Travel’s Jo Kessel was on board and declared that it’s ‘impossible to be bored’. 

Odyssey of the Seas features 16 decks. Eight of these have balcon staterooms that overlook the ocean.

It can carry 5,498 passengers and has 1,550 crew members from around the world.

From Fort Lauderdale in Florida until April 2022, she will sail the Caribbean on Caribbean cruises. Odyssey, sailing from Rome to the Mediterranean in May 2022 and October 2022 will be there. 

Visit www.royalcaribbean.com for more information. 

Jo Kessel from MailOnline Travel stated it was impossible to bore yourself on Odyssey of the Seas