The Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri is continuing its partnership with Viking: two new expedition ships are being built at the shipyard in Palermo.
The ships are scheduled for delivery in 2030 and 2031. They will be sister ships to the “Viking Octantis” and “Viking Polaris”, which were built by Fincantieri’s Norwegian subsidiary Vard and delivered in 2021 and 2022. The two newbuilds are now being built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo and will sail in “polar and remote regions” and on the St. Lawrence River.
In addition to the two ships, Fincantieri and Viking have also signed an option agreement for two additional ships. The exact value of the contract was not disclosed, but Fincantieri estimates it to be “very high”, amounting to at least €2 billion.
The newbuilds ordered will each have 189 cabins and space for 378 passengers. They are certified to polar class 6 for safe voyages in polar regions. Maneuverability and stability should be guaranteed even in rough seas. Features include straight bow shapes, extended hulls and modern fin stabilizers. Ice-reinforced structures are designed to enable safe sailing in “extreme environments”; U-tank stabilizers significantly reduce rolling movements when stationary. The vessels were designed by the same naval architects and engineers responsible for Viking’s ocean-going fleet.
Options in the premium segment
According to Fincantieri, the two other ocean-going vessel options, scheduled for delivery in 2034, will be positioned in the “upper premium segment” and follow the same design philosophy and technical standards as the vessels already built by Fincantieri or under construction in the Italian shipyards. With 54,300 GT and a planned capacity for 998 guests in 499 cabins, the ships will comply with current environmental and shipping regulations and will be equipped with modern safety systems.
“This agreement with Viking is a development of high strategic and industrial value for our Group,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri. “The decision to build these ships in Palermo consolidates the shipyard’s role as a fully integrated production center within our Italian industrial system and confirms the structural growth path we have embarked on in recent years.”
Fincantieri and Viking have been working together since 2012 and the partnership now comprises 26 ships. Another major customer is Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), which recently ordered three new cruise ships for three of its brands from Fincantieri.
