Viking I News

A flourishing cruise market and European shipbuilders’ unerring contractual success in the sector has taken orderbooks into the middle of the next decade, ensuring production continuity and underpinning fresh capital expenditure and R&D commitments by the continent’s foremost players.Just how important the segment is to the industry and supply chain may be gauged from the fact that at least three-quarters of the value of European yards’ commercial orderbooks is attributable to…

A marine evacuation system (MES) from VIKING Life-Saving Equipment offers a faster exit for passengers, simpler operation for crew and easier service for cruise and ferry owners.Developed for passenger ships needing high evacuation capacity, the VIKING Helix MES introduces a new helix-type slide that 4-8 people can use at once and a bowsing system that keeps life rafts on-side with minimal crew involvement.Enabling the controlled ship evacuation of up to 477 persons within 30 minutes into 153-person life rafts alongside, the multiple occupancy slide accommodates adults of all sizes.

Fincantieri has launched what it says will be the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship. Viking Libra was floated out at the company’s Ancona shipyard in Italy and is being built for cruise operator Viking, with delivery scheduled for late 2026.At approximately 54,300 gross tons and 239 meters long, the ship will accommodate up to 998 passengers across 499 cabins, consistent with Viking’s small-ship positioning. The vessel will feature a hybrid propulsion system incorporating liquefied hydrogen and fuel cells, enabling zero-emission operations in certain conditions.

Fincantieri announces the acquisition of an order from Viking for the construction of two expedition vessels. In addition, the two companies also signed an agreement for an option for two ocean ships, marking a new milestone in the collaboration between the two companies. The value of these agreements, subject to financing and other typical terms and conditions, is considered very important[1].The two expedition vessels, scheduled for delivery in 2030 and 2031, will be sister ships to “Viking Octantis” and “Viking Polaris…

Norwegian oil and gas company Aker BP has extended a contract for Eidesvik Offshore’s platform supply vessel (PSV) Viking Prince.The firm period for the PSV has been extended with approximately two months, and will run to end of April 2026. No additional details about the contract were disclosed.Viking Prince is a 2012-built platform supply vessel (PSV), with a deck area of around 1 050 m2.The 89.6 meters-long, liquified natural gas (LNG)-fueled vessel was upgraded to battery hybrid system and a shore power system in January 2022.

Royal Caribbean forecast annual profit above Wall Street estimates on Thursday, supported by strong demand from affluent travelers and a solid start to a key booking season.Shares of Royal Caribbean jumped about 16% in early trading, as the cruise operator also forecast double-digit revenue growth in 2026.Royal Caribbean said the first weeks of Wave, the key January‑to‑March booking period when cruise operators roll out exclusive deals, were among its strongest ever, as well-heeled customers continue to prioritize sea-based vacations."WAVE is off to a great start…

Norwegian offshore vessel owner Eidesvik Offshore has secured a contract for its Viking Princess platform supply vessel (PSV).The contract has been signed with operators DNO Norge, Sval Energi, which is another DNO subsidiary, and Wellesley Petroleum covering a campaign with the Deepsea Yantai drilling rig.Estimated at 300-365 days, the work relates to plugging and abandonment of one well and drilling of four consecutive wells and is scheduled to start in January 2026.Built in 2013, Viking Princess in 89,6 meters long, with a beam of 21 meters.

Subsea7 has secured a sizeable extension of an existing frame agreement by Equinor for subsea inspection, maintenance and repair services using the vessel Seven Viking.The extension continues a frame agreement first signed in 2018 and runs through the end of 2027.Under the terms of the deal, Seven Viking will carry out inspection, maintenance and repair services at Equinor’s oil and gas wells across the Norwegian Continental Shelf.Project management and engineering work will continue to be handled from Subsea 7’s office in Stavanger…

DEME has secured three contracts for the installation of monopile foundations, inter-array cables, and the export cable at the BC-Wind offshore wind farm in Poland.The combined contracts are valued between $174 million and $350 million (€150 million and 300 million).BC-Wind, developed by offshore wind firm Ocean Winds, a 50-50 joint venture between EDP Renewables and ENGIE, is located approximately 23 km off the Polish Baltic Sea coast.With a planned capacity of up to 390 MW, the wind farm will generate clean electricity for around 500…

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment, a maritime safety solutions specialist and supplier of high-performance boats, has signed a contract with the Norwegian Customs Service (Tolletaten) to deliver a new fleet of cutting-edge patrol and fast response craft.The new boats will strengthen Tolletaten’s maritime capabilities and support its law enforcement and inspection duties in Norwegian waters.The agreement covers the delivery of four VIKING Norsafe boats including one Marathon S-900, powered by twin 350 HP Mercury engines…

The delivery of the next-generation construction support vessel (CSV), under construction at Turkish Sefine Shipyard for Norway’s Eidesvik Offshore and Agalas, has been delayed for later in 2026.The delivery of the CSV, which will feature a battery hybrid system and be capable of operating on methanol, has been rescheduled from early 2026 to the third quarter of the same year.The vessel, named Viking Vigor, will be owned by an entity to be named Eidesvik Agalas AS, where Eidesvik will be the majority owner with 50.1%.The newbuild will be equipped to perform inspection, maintenance and repair (

Johnson Controls International (JCI) and Denmark-based VIKING Life-Saving Equipment have signed a global agreement to provide coordinated fire safety service solutions for the maritime and offshore industries.As part of the partnership, VIKING has been appointed as the globally approved, trained, and certified service provider for all marine and navy firefighting systems and equipment supplied by JCI.JCI’s Marine and Navy division is a major global manufacturer of firefighting systems…

Belgium-based offshore installation services company DEME has ordered a new Offshore Construction Vessel (OCV), which will be built by PaxOcean at the Zhoushan shipyard in China.The new OCV will strengthen DEME’s subsea cable installation capacity to meet the evolving global offshore wind market.Designed for versatility, the vessel will be capable of executing trenching, burial, and cable-laying operations, complementing DEME’s existing cable installation vessels, Living Stone and Viking Neptun.Representing a sizable investment…

The “Viking Mira," a new cruise ship under construction for Viking, was launched at the Ancona shipyard. The ship is scheduled to debut in spring 2026, offering itineraries in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.The ceremony, which marks the ship’s transition to the final outfitting phase, was attended by Gilberto Tobaldi, Director of the Ancona Shipyard, and Gastone Lazzari, New Building Site Team Manager for Viking.With a gross tonnage of approximately 54,300 tons, “Viking Mira” will feature 499 staterooms and accommodate up to 998 passengers on board.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has held a naming ceremony for the newbuilding very large crude carrier (VLCC) Energia Viking for Equinor, at the Dalian COSCO KHI Ship Engineering shipyard in China.The Energia Viking is the first LNG dual-fuel VLCC delivered by the MOL Group and sailing under a charter contract with Equinor.The vessel is equipped with an LNG fuel tank with a capacity exceeding 10,000m3, enabling long-distance transportation and allowing for flexible transport plans.In addition…

The Ancona shipyard hosted the latest stage of the "Open Shipyards, a View of the Future" roadshow on July 28, 2025, an initiative promoted by Fincantieri that opens the doors of the Group's Italian facilities to institutions and stakeholders. The event focused on dialogue on industrial innovation, organizational transformation, and sustainability challenges, with particular attention to the strategic value of the Marche region in the national production system.The meeting opened with greetings from Biagio Mazzotta…

Isotta Fraschini Motori (IFM), a Fincantieri subsidiary specializing in advanced fuel cell technologies, inaugurated a new production line dedicated to the development and testing of hydrogen fuel cell systems at its Bari shipyard.The inauguration ceremony was attended by Nicola Bonasia, Mayor of Modugno; Antonio Decaro, President of the European Parliament's Environmental Protection Commission; representatives of the President of the Puglia Region; the Mayor of Bari; and the Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy.

Viking Vesta, the second of a new series of cruise ships that Fincantieri is building for the shipowner Viking, was delivered today at the Ancona shipyard.The ceremony was attended by Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking, and Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager of the Merchant Ships Business Unit of Fincantieri.The vessel belongs to the segment of small cruise ships. With a gross tonnage of approximately 54,300 tons, Viking Vesta has 499 cabins and can accommodate 998 passengers on board.

Marking a key development in the Canadian Marine Industry, LALIZAS—known for marine safety equipment—announced an expansion in Canada, adding service stations in the East and West of Canada.The manufacturer’s commitment to supporting safety at sea has taken a significant step forward with the inclusion of two authorized service stations: Dera Maritime and Viking Fire Protection.Trusted by local businesses across Canada, LALIZAS safety equipment now comes with local service support…

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment has expanded the capacity and capabilities of its Undertun commuter ferry evacuation system, as part of development work which also confirms the solution surpasses open sea performance requirements in SOLAS and the IMO code for High Speed Craft.After acquiring all Undertun design, production and supply rights last year, VIKING has made two key upgrades to a system that is widely used in sheltered waters in Norway. It has added a 203-person capacity life raft to the 101- and 153-person units previously available…

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment has launched the first Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) immersion suit in the world designed for women working in offshore wind energy, using guidance on diversity and inclusivity from industry leaders Ørsted, Siemens and Vestas.The VIKING YouSafe Cyclone suit joins a growing portfolio of VIKING PPE whose fit and features reflect the safety needs of female seafarers, pilots and technicians in the marine and offshore industries.The most recent UK Government…

This past month Maritime Reporter TV has taken a close look at two hydrogen fuel cell projects: the new research vessel planned for Scripps Institution of Oceanography and e1 Marine’s methanol-to-hydrogen technology which is being adopted by STAX Engineering for its emissions capture barges.The Scripps California Coastal Research Vessel will feature a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system that will allow it to operate with no greenhouse gas or other emissions for 75% of its missions – and for all of its time operating in state waters.

Eidesvik Seven Chartering, a joint venture company between Subsea7 and Eidesvik Offshore, has entered into an agreement with Subsea7 to extend the contract for the subsea vessel Seven Viking.Subsea7 declared the remaining option for 2026 and 2027 was added as a firm year in addition to an option for 2028.The 2027 and 2028 rates are based on current market terms. “We are very pleased to see this new contract for Seven Viking and look forward to continuing our long and strong collaboration with Subsea7…