Cunard to Build New Queen Elizabeth

Cunard Line announced that it has ordered a new 92,000-ton liner, to be named Queen Elizabeth, scheduled to enter service in the autumn of 2010. Cunard, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE CUK) signed an agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of the new 2092-passenger ocean liner, which will be built at Fincantieri's Monfalcone yard at an all-in cost of approximately $700m. The vessel will be the second largest Cunarder the company has ever built. Cunard owns and operates the two most famous ocean liners in the world, Queen Elizabeth 2 and Queen Mary 2. A third - Queen Victoria - is due to be named by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales, in December of this year, according to Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line. She indicated that the new order is a result of the strong booking response to the new Queen Victoria. Queen Elizabeth will fly the Red Ensign with her home-port Southampton, as is the case with the other ships in the Cunard fleet. The agreement is subject to approval by the board of directors of Carnival Corporation & plc.