Fincantieri Will Build Fourth Cruise Ship for Virgin Voyages
Fincantieri and global travel brand Virgin Voyages, have signed a contract valued at approximately EUR 700 million for the construction of a fourth cruise ship, which will be delivered at the end of 2023.
The new vessel will be a sistership of the three ships on order with Fincantieri. Construction is underway at the Sestri Ponente shipyard (Genoa) and the first three ships will enter Virgin Voyage’s fleet respectively in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
The fourth vessel will be approximately 110,000 gross tons, 278m long and 38m wide. The ship will feature over 1,400 guest cabins designed to host more than 2,770 passengers, accompanied by 1,100 crew members on board to deliver the famed Virgin service.
The Virgin Voyages fleet will stand out for original design and craftsmanship. Highlights include highly innovative design solutions, specifically to address energy recovery and the reduction of the overall environmental impact. For example, ships will be equipped with an energy production system of approximately 1 MW, which uses the diesel engine’s waste heat. The result is a system that distinguishes Virgin Voyages as they aim to create one of the cleanest fleets at sea.
A first look at the Virgin Voyages’ shipdesign is featured in the latest issue of ShipBuilding Industry on page 72.