Fincantieri has received an order from Viking Cruises for the construction of two new expedition ships and has also signed an agreement granting options for two additional ocean-going ships.
The value of the agreements, subject to financing arrangements and customary contractual conditions, has been classified by Fincantieri as very important, indicating a total exceeding EUR 2 billion.
The expedition ships are scheduled for delivery in 2030 and 2031 and will be sisterships to Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, which were built by Fincantieri’s Norwegian subsidiary Vard and delivered in 2021 and 2022.
Construction of the new units will take place at Fincantieri’s yard in Palermo, Sicily.
Each vessel will accommodate 378 guests in 189 staterooms and will be certified to Polar Class 6 standards. The ships are designed for navigation in remote waters and on routes such as the St. Lawrence River, with an emphasis on maneuverability and operational stability in challenging sea conditions. Their design includes straight bows, extended hull forms and fin stabilizers, while ice-strengthened structures will allow operations in polar environments. U-tank stabilizers are intended to reduce rolling when the vessels are stationary. The design has been developed by the same team of naval architects and engineers responsible for Viking’s ocean fleet, combining Scandinavian-inspired interiors with compact public areas and dedicated expedition facilities.
The agreement also includes options for two ocean ships scheduled for delivery in 2034. These vessels will belong to the upper premium segment and will follow the same design philosophy and technical standards as other ships built or currently under construction for Viking in Fincantieri’s Italian shipyards. Each ship will have a gross tonnage of approximately 54,300 and will accommodate 998 guests in 499 cabins. The vessels will be designed in accordance with the latest environmental and navigational regulations and will be equipped with updated safety systems.
Fincantieri’s chief executive officer and managing director, Pierroberto Folgiero, indicated that the agreement represented a development of strong strategic and industrial value for the group. He further noted that the decision to construct the expedition vessels in Palermo reinforced the role of the shipyard as an integrated production centre within the company’s Italian industrial network and reflected the growth path pursued in recent years.