Page 14: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (March 2020)

Passenger Ships

NEW VIKING SHIP

This rendering shows what the new Viking expedi- tion ships will look like, including the hangar for launching small vessels.

Photos: Viking

NOAA-Viking Public Private Partnership ... a Win-Win for Research here was important cruise news in Janu- the industry, about the health and vibrancy of the cruise busi- ary: Viking – a premier European ocean ness.

and river cruise company – will offer two Viking’s Great Lakes news may have a familiar ring. That

T new “destination-focused travel experi- could be because in late 2018 Viking was reportedly close to ences,” starting in 2022. One set of cruises concluding the steps needed for new Mississippi River cruis- becomes Viking’s ? rst foray in the inland es (see Marine News, January 2019). Un? nished though,

North American market, in this case the Great Lakes. An- were critical moves for Viking, based in Switzerland, to com- other set of cruises will head to the Arctic and Antarctica. ply with strict U.S. carriage laws, in this case the Passenger

Viking is building two new vessels: the Viking Octantis and Vessel Services Act (PVSA), which controls the coastwise the Viking Polaris, under construction now in Norway, by transportation of passengers between U.S. ports. The PVSA

Fincantieri’s VARD. is to passenger service what the Jones Act is to freight. The

In a press release Viking writes that it has created “the two laws are sometimes referenced interchangeably. Each thinking person’s expedition.” Indeed, Viking has partnered requires that vessels used in U.S. coastwise commerce are with the University of Cambridge’s Scott Polar Research In- American owned and American built. The Jones Act addi- stitute, whose scientists will undertake ? eldwork on board. tionally requires American crews. Exemptions don’t come

Beyond the cruise partnership opportunities, Viking has also easy.

endowed a professorship at the Institute and is helping to In 2019, for its Mississippi effort, Viking was reportedly fund graduate studies. Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithol- seeking a “charter agreement,” for operations, with a U.S. ogy is a partner. And, so is NOAA - the US National Oceanic company. It was supposedly working with an American ? rm and Atmospheric Administration. in New Orleans to build new vessels.

For maritime research, Viking’s new offerings are striking. That work has not paid off, at least yet. A Viking represen-

Ditto for people who track cruise industry developments. In tative did say, via email, that Viking is “actively working with past years, industry of? cials have been anticipating Viking’s our partners to launch on the Mississippi River, but at this entry into North America. The company’s reputation is such point in time we do not have any details to share.” that its investments and presence send strong signals, across Now come the Great Lakes cruises. Not completely in the 14 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • March 2020

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