Captain Tom Roth takes over the first command of Mein Schiff Relax

Todd Burgman then brings the guests as the captain to the highlights of the western Mediterranean

Hamburg, 19 February 2025 - Even as a child, it was his greatest wish to go to sea, and now one of the projects close to his heart is coming to fruition. Captain Tom Roth takes over the first command of Mein Schiff Relax and will also sail the first newbuild of the InTUItion ship class to Málaga for its unique christening. Tom Roth, who has been involved in the development and construction of Mein Schiff Relax for six years and has also been working at the Italian Fincantieri shipyard since August last year, was born in Zurich in 1970.

He began studying to become a captain in 1996 and then progressed through the ranks at various shipping companies before joining the Mein Schiff fleet of TUI Cruises since 2016 as captain. His biggest project on board the Mein Schiff Relax was the joint design of a new high-tech bridge with experts from the Norwegian company Vard, which also belongs to the Fincantieri Group. The command centre of the first ship in the InTUItion class is pioneering, with a modern and minimalist look. Flat screens and touchpads characterise the picture. ‘Mein Schiff Relax is a further development of the existing fleet in all areas and also takes navigation to a new level. Being able to experience this process, the first voyages and finally the christening of this wonderful and innovative ship as captain makes me very proud. I am very much looking forward to the first guests coming on board and celebrating this ship together.’

After the naming event, Todd Burgman will take command of Mein Schiff Relax and will sail guests to the highlights of the western Mediterranean in her first summer before Mein Schiff Relax sails to her winter cruising area in the Canary Islands.

The American has been captain on various TUI Cruises ships since 2014. He began his nautical training with the US Coast Guard Reserve in 1979 and has sailed as captain for thirty years. He has sailed on a variety of ships, including container ships, research ships, expedition ships, mega yachts, numerous cruise ships and some of the world’s largest sailing ships. Mein Schiff Relax is the first ship in the Mein Schiff fleet with an Azipod propulsion system. In contrast to conventional propellers, the Azipod propellers can rotate 360 degrees and generate extreme power in every direction. This gives the ship excellent manoeuvrability and allows it to enter and leave port in difficult weather conditions,’ says Todd Burgman.

First ship powered by gas

TUI Cruises is also relying on emission-reducing technologies for its new ship class: Mein Schiff Relax is equipped with dual-fuel engines powered by liquefied natural gas and designed for future use with bio-LNG and e-LNG. In addition, the ship is equipped with catalytic converters designed to reduce nitrogen oxides and a shore power connection. This makes it possible to largely avoid operating the ship’s engines while in port.

Hydro-Treat: Efficient waste processing

Mein Schiff Relax is also equipped with a system for the thermal treatment of organic waste. In the so-called HydroTreat process, liquid components are separated from the organic waste and fed into the ship’s own wastewater treatment system. The solid components are processed into biochar which, depending on its quality and intended use, can for example be used in agriculture.