STX France SA has received an order to build two luxury cruise ships fromViking Ocean Cruises, an affiliate of Viking River Cruises. The vessels will be
delivered in spring 2014 and spring 2015, respectively, and will be part of
Viking's new Ocean Cruise brand. An option for a third ship is being considered.
The vessels will be operated primarily on the Mediterranean seas and be
dedicated mainly to Viking's US, British and Australian customers.
The vessels will have a length of 230m and a width of 26.5m. They will each
include 888 passengers in 444 cabins with a complement of 444 crew members.
The contract will represent about 2.5 million man-hours. Construction is
expected to start in mid-September 2012 for the first vessel and in
mid-September 2013 for the second vessel. The contract is subject to financing.
Well known as the world's leading river cruise company Viking ranks as an
upscale owner. Viking River Cruise currently operates a fleet of 23 river
vessels, and has 8 river cruise vessels under construction. River cruising is
destination oriented and the two ocean going vessels will similarly be designed
with destination cruising in mind.
"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" says
Jacques Hardelay, General Manager of STX France.
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