By
Michele Witthaus |
STX France has received orders for two luxury cruise vessels for Viking Ocean, an affiliate of Viking River Cruises.
Each 888-passenger, 444-cabin ship will have a length of 230m and a width of 26.5m, with the same number of crew members as cabins. The ships, which will sail primarily on the Mediterranean and be targeted mainly at Viking’s American, British and Australian customers, will be delivered in spring 2014 and spring 2015 respectively. An option for a third ship is also being considered.
The contract will bring approximately 2.5 million man-hours of work to STX France’s St. Nazaire shipyard. Construction is expected to start in mid-September 2012 for the first vessel and in mid-September 2013 for the second. The contract is subject to financing.
“We are proud to have been selected by Viking to build their new series of ships and delighted to contribute to their expansion into a new market,” said Jacques Hardelay, general manager of STX France.