Page 58: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 2026)

In the Shipyard

From Design to Delivery

Viking Libra: Hydrogen-Fueled Cruise Ship

Fincantieri launched what it says will be the world’s ? rst hydrogen-powered cruise ship, marking a notable step for- ward in the industry’s push toward zero-emission opera- tions. Viking Libra was ? oated out at the company’s Ancona shipyard in Italy and is being built for cruise operator Vi- king, with delivery scheduled for late 2026.

At approximately 54,300 gross tons and 239 meters in length, the ship will accommodate up to 998 passengers across 499 cabins — consistent with Viking’s small-ship positioning — but its signi? cance lies beneath the waterline.

The vessel will feature a hybrid propulsion system incorporat- ing lique? ed hydrogen and fuel cells, enabling zero-emission

Image courtesy Fincantieri operations in certain conditions. That capability is expected to allow access to environmentally sensitive regions where con- storage, infrastructure and cost — is increasingly viewed as ventional cruise ships face increasing regulatory restrictions. a longer-term pathway to full decarbonization.

The project re? ects a broader shift among cruise opera- For Fincantieri and Viking, Viking Libra represents the tors and shipbuilders toward alternative fuels, particularly latest milestone in a partnership that dates back to 2012. as regulatory pressure builds in key markets such as Europe. Including existing orders, signed contracts and recent op-

While LNG has served as a transitional fuel for many new- tions — subject to ? nancing—the two companies now have builds, hydrogen—despite ongoing challenges related to a combined pipeline of 26 vessels.

Explora IV Floated-Out Explora IV Floated-Out

Fincantieri and MSC Group’s l Explora Journeys marked a major milestone in the construction of the brand’s next-generation cruise ? eet with a triple cer- emony at the Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa. The event included the tech- nical ? oat-out of Explora IV, the traditional coin ceremony for Explora

V, and the steel-cutting for Explora VI, advancing the build-out of Explora

Journeys’ six-ship luxury ? eet. With the start of construction on Explora VI,

Fincantieri now has four vessels for the brand under construction at the same time. Explora III is currently undergoing sea trials and is scheduled for deliv- ery in July. Explora IV and Explora V are expected to enter service in 2027, while Explora VI will follow in 2028, completing the ? eet program.

The ? rst two ships in the series, Explora I and Explora II, are already in op- eration, serving global itineraries in the high-end cruise segment.

The ceremony was attended by regional and maritime of? cials alongside execu- tives from MSC Group and Fincantieri, including Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive

Chairman of MSC Group’s Passenger Division; Anna Nash, President of Explora

Journeys; and Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and General Manager of Fincantieri.

MSC Group has invested approximately €3.5 billion in the six-ship Explora

Journeys program. Including four previously delivered cruise ships—MSC

Seaside, MSC Seaview, MSC Seashore and MSC Seascape—the group’s total investment with Fincantieri reaches about €7 billion.

The vessels currently under construction will be powered by lique? ed natural gas (LNG), reducing emissions compared with conventional marine fuels. The ? nal vessel in the series, Explora VI, will also incorporate fuel-cell technology designed to generate energy by converting LNG into hydrogen.

With two ships already in service and four under construction, the Explora

Journeys ? eet is expected to be fully operational by 2028.

58 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • April 2026

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