PALERMO (ITALPRESS) – Fincantieri announces the acquisition of an order from Viking for the construction of two ships from cruise expedition. The two companies also signed an agreement for an option relating to two oceanic ships, marking a new stage in the collaboration between the two groups. The total value of the agreements, subject to financing and other terms and conditions typical of this type of contracts, is considered as “very important”. The two cruise expedition ships, with deliveries planned in 2030 and 2031, will be twins of “Viking Octantis” and “Viking Polaris”, both realized by the Norwegian subsidiary Vard and delivered respectively in 2021 and 2022. The new units will be delivered by the Fincantieri yard of Palermo and will support the expansion of Viking in the market dedicated to exploration in polar areas and more remote regions. Each ship, read in a note, can accommodate 378 guests in 189 cabins and will be certified “Polar Class 6” to operate safely in the polar regions. Designed to navigate remote areas and along the San Lorenzo River, they will offer superior manoeuvrability and stability even in rough sea conditions. The main features include the vertical bow, while the reinforced ice hulls will ensure safe navigation in extreme environments. U-tank stabilizers will significantly reduce the ship’s roll even at reduced speed.
The ships, underlines the note, are designed by the same architects and engineers who signed the ocean fleet of Viking, combining the elegance of Scandinavian design, public spaces collected and areas added specifically for the particular type of expedition. The two options for ocean cruise ships, both with scheduled delivery in 2034, will be inserted in the upper premium segment and will follow the same design philosophy and technical standards of the units already built by Fincantieri or currently under construction in the Italian yards of the Group. With a gross tonnage of about 54,300 tons and a capacity of 998 guests in 499 cabins, will comply with the latest environmental and navigation regulations and will be equipped with state-of-the-art security systems. For Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and General Manager of Fincantieri, “this agreement with Viking represents a step of great strategic and industrial value for our Group. The decision to implement these units in Palermo further strengthens the role of the construction site as a fully integrated production pole in our Italian industrial system, confirming the path of structural growth undertaken in recent years”. This new order further consolidates a successful partnership started in 2012, which today includes a total of 26 ships, concludes the note.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
