New German cruise ship headed downriver for North Sea
The "Asuka III" departed the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, near the north-western German border to the Netherlands.
The approximately 40-kilometre journey over the River Ems to the Dutch port of Eemshaven began early on Sunday morning.
Despite the early hour and heavy fog, many spectators gathered in the Papenburg harbour and along the riverbanks to watch the ship leave, according to a dpa photographer.
The ship was towed backwards along the narrow Ems by tugs, a method that has proven effective for transfers to the sea.
The "Asuka III" is the first ship Meyer Werft has built for the Japanese shipping company NYK Cruises.
The vessel, which is 230 metres long and nearly 30 metres wide, has a spa area with a Japanese open-air bath and can accommodate around 740 passengers - a far smaller number than the ships built by US companies.
To move the ship, the Ems flood barrier has been closed to dam the river and raise the water level, a move criticized by environmentalists who complain about the ensuing damage to nature.
The ship is due to arrive in Eemshaven by Tuesday morning.
After technical tests, it will proceed to the German port of Emden, where it will be handed over to the shipping company.
Meyer Werft has recently faced financial difficulties due to the global tourism slump caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, despite having a full order book.
Last year, the German government and the state of Lower Saxony each acquired a 40% stake in the company.
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