Harmony of the Seas – dubbed “Europe’s biggest hotel” – docked at the UK port of Southampton yesterday after leaving Saint-Nazaire in France at the week-end; ArcelorMittal sites in Spain and France provided 100% of the steel used in this 362m-long, 65m-wide floating city, the largest cruise ship ever built.

Longer than the Eiffel tower, Harmony of the Seas is made of heavy plates made at our site in Gijón, Spain, and coils produced at ArcelorMittal Fos-sur-Mer and subsequently processed at our service centre in Saint-Nazaire, both in France.

Harmony of the Seas was built by STX France and left the customer’s shipyard in Saint-Nazaire at the weekend, making her way to Southampton where she is currently being admired by the public and media alike, and prepared for her inaugural voyage to Rotterdam on 22 May.

With around 2,700 staterooms, 20 restaurants and 23 swimming pools, the 16-deck cruise ship has the capacity to carry nearly 6,800 passengers and more than 2,000 crew members. It also boasts a cinema and a promenade, as well as a spa and fitness centre.

ArcelorMittal’s partnership with STX France started in 2013, when our company was selected by the shipbuilder to supply 100% of the steel for the hull and 20 bridges in the world’s biggest cruise ship. Earlier this month, ArcelorMittal was also recognised by STX France with a supplier award in the “long-term cooperation” category.

Hervé Bourrier, CEO, ArcelorMittal France said: "This contract demonstrates our ability to deliver high quality steels and tailored services from our European industrial and sales units, and confirms our long-term presence as a steel supplier to the cruise ship market, one that has seen consistent growth over the last five years."

Harmony of the Seas is the first of two “Oasis-class” cruise ships built by STX France. The second is currently under construction, and will also source all its steel from ArcelorMittal. Deliveries will extend until spring 2017.

Harmony of the Seas was officially inaugurated on 12 May and will be operated by Royal Caribbean International.

Photo by www.twitter.com/RoyalCaribbean