Steady as she goes! The heartstopping moment £1bn cruise liner squeezes under bridge... with just '1.5 inches' to spare



It required a steady hand... and nerves of steel.



Fortunately for the captain, the world's newest superliner squeezed under this Danish bridge with ease, even though there was just an inch-and-a-half margin of error.

The Allure of the Seas - which cost a staggering £1billion ($1.5bn) - measures around four football fields and accommodates 8,300 people including crew members.

Nerves of steel: The Allure of the Seas passes under the Store Belt Bridge, in Denmark, with just the slimmest of gaps to spare

Audience: Crowds gathered to watch the £1billion ship pass after it lowered its telescopic smokestacks

It is the sister ship to Royal Carribean's Oasis of the Seas.



Hans Nilsen, an official at the Korsoer Naval Station, said the passage at 2.20pm went well after the Allure had lowered its telescopic smokestacks.

He said there was about 20in (50cm) clearance between the bridge and the top of the ship - but swell adn weather conditions brought that margin of error down to 1.5in (4cm).

Any sudden movement and it would have been a very different story.

He said traffic on the bridge did not have to be stopped during the passage because the voyage was made during daytime, reducing any risks.

Mega-ship: The Allure is the size of four football fields and can accommodate around 8,300 people

The ship left the shipyard in Turku, Finland, on Friday and is expected to reach its new home port in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in a few weeks.

The cruise liner measures 1,200 feet (360 meters) from bow to stern, and its height from sea level is 236 feet (72 meters).

As well as a two-deck high dance hall, a 1,380-seat theatre and an ice skating rink, a number of pools, spas, gyms, it also houses bars, restaurants and cafes as well as a shopping street with a park with trees.

The building of the ship began by shipyard owner STX Finland in February 2008.

STX Finland is part of the international STX Europe Group, with shipyards in Brazil, Norway, France, Romania and Vietnam.

Lavish: The ship's main restaurant, which spreads across three floors, with the Captain's Table at the centr

Floating city: The Allure also has a shopping street and a park with trees



