
Fascinating new pictures have emerged of an enormous cruise ship being cut in half so a 49ft extension can be inserted to increase passenger capacity by 12 per cent.

The Silver Spirit, launched at the end of 2009 by Silversea, was photographed at a dry dock in Palermo, Sicily, with her giant body split in two and her innards exposed.

Engineers are seen working throughout the night to move the cruise liner's new section into place, with 'precision' key to the mind-boggling elongation project.

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Fascinating pictures have emerged of an enormous cruise ship being cut in half so a 49ft extension can be inserted to increase its passenger capacity by 12 per cent

The Silver Spirit was launched at the end of 2009 by Silversea and its owners decided it was time for an upgrade

The ship's new mid-section is tested on the water before being inserted and fixed into place

Engineers work to precise measurements to ensure the extension project runs smoothly

The Silver Spirit now has a new length of 691 feet thanks to the incredible feat of engineering. The previous passenger capacity was 540 but this will jump to 608.

The extension cost more than $70 million (£50.1 million) and thousands more will be spent on refurbishing the elongated vessel.

Silversea's Silver Spirit was sliced in two at the Fincantieri shipyard.

The dissection of the 32,600-tonne ship took place in front of press and a small group of VIPs who witnessed the huge midsection being manoeuvred into position.

Silversea Cruises, based in Monaco, said that the expansion project will be completed by May 5 and will take more than 500 skilled workers over 450,000 hours to do the job.

Engineers are seen working throughout the night to move the cruise liner's new section into place, with 'precision' key to the mind-boggling extension project

The rare lengthening project will create more space in public areas and will enhance Silver Spirit's facilities

The sheer scale of the boat comes to light when it is seen out of the water and on dry land

The boat's different deck levels can be seen after being split in half (left), meanwhile, a team of engineers assess the work ahead (right)

An aerial view reveals how the extension project works, with pieces fitting into place like a jigsaw puzzle

An air of excitement was cast over the shipyard as those present witnessed the dissection of the 36,009-ton ship

The midsection - which comprises 846,144kg of steel alone - will provide around 15 per cent more seating in dining areas and will include four new restaurants.

The lengthening project will also see an additional 49 feet of poolside deck and 20 per cent more outdoor seating, as well as a new aerobics area.

And all luxury suites will be refurbished before the Silver Spirit sets sail again in May.

The cruise ship's old furniture and fittings - including sofas, chairs, curtains and computers - have been loaded onto 11 containers and will be donated to social welfare groups in Crete, Greece.

Commenting on the extension project, Silversea's chief marketing officer Barbara Muckermann said: 'Witnessing these breathtaking phases of the Silver Spirit lengthening project has filled us with pride and excitement.

The Silver Spirit cruises into position to meet its new mid-section

The new section of the boat can be seen in the early building stages, with exposed wires and cables

Commenting on the extension project, Silversea's chief marketing officer Barbara Muckermann said: 'Witnessing these breathtaking phases of the Silver Spirit lengthening project has filled us with pride and excitement'

The extension cost more than $70 million (£50.1 million) and thousands more will be spent on refurbishing the elongated vessel

The Silver Spirit, originally launched at the end of 2009 by Silversea, has a new length of 691 feet after a pre-built midsection was inserted to offer more space

Silversea's Silver Spirit was sliced in two at the Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo, Sicily

'This ambitious project will amplify the onboard features that matter most to our guests.

'We are taking our flagship, Silver Muse - which was delivered by Fincantieri in April last year - as the point of inspiration for a fleet-wide renovation programme. The lengthening and refurbishment of Silver Spirit will replicate the modern elegance of our latest vessel to make for a more luxurious travelling experience.

'We are eager to share the new and improved layout of our cherished ship with our valued guests.'

Silver Spirit will recommence her service on May 6 with a seven-day cruise between Civitavecchia (Rome) and Barcelona with fares starting at £4,500 per person.



The dissection of the 32,600-tonne ship took place in front of press and a small group of VIPs who witnessed the huge midsection being manoeuvred into position

The midsection - which comprises 846,144kg of steel alone - will provide around 15 per cent more seating in dining areas and will include four new restaurants

The lengthening project will also see an additional 49 feet of poolside deck and 20 per cent more outdoor seating, as well as a new aerobics area. All luxury suites will be refurbished before the Silver Spirit sets sail again in May

The cruise ship's old furniture and fittings - including sofas, chairs, curtains and computers - have been loaded onto 11 containers and will be donated to social welfare groups in Crete, Greece

More than 500 skilled workers will spend around 450,000 hours to increase the ship's capacity by around 12 per cent

The transformation means the ship will be able to carry 608 guests, up from 540