The launch ceremony of Viking Astrea, the new cruise ship under construction for the cruise line Viking, took place at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard. The vessel represents a further step in the development of innovative technological solutions for an increasingly sustainable cruise industry.

The ceremony was attended by Gilberto Tobaldi, Director of Fincantieri’s Ancona Shipyard and Ghislain Lemarie, Vice President Ship Development and Construction of Viking. Godmother of the ceremony was Francesca Baldinelli, who works in the Production Control department at the Ancona shipyard.

With a gross tonnage of approximately 54,300 tons, a length of 239 meters, and accommodation for up to 998 passengers in 499 cabins, Viking Astrea will feature a propulsion system partially powered by liquid hydrogen and fuel cells. The project has been developed with particular attention to environmental sustainability and will enable the ship to operate with zero emissions, allowing access to environmentally sensitive marine areas.

The collaboration between Fincantieri and Viking, began in 2012, has evolved over the years into a strong industrial partnership in the cruise sector through the construction of numerous vessels and the successful delivery of multiple projects. The launch of Viking Astrea marks another milestone in this journey and confirms the value of a collaboration that combines Fincantieri’s shipbuilding expertise with Viking’s commitment to developing innovative solutions for a more sustainable cruise industry.

The Ancona shipyard plays a strategic role within the Fincantieri Group, combining significant production capabilities with an increasing focus on innovation and operational efficiency. The facility covers an area of approximately 360,000 square meters and features a production capacity of 60,000 gross tons, lifting systems capable of handling loads of up to 500 tons, and a hull construction capacity of approximately 1,200 tons.

Since 2009, more than 20 vessels have been delivered from the Ancona shipyard, and today approximately 3,700 people are involved in its operations. Further investments are planned to strengthen its production capacity, while participation in Fincantieri’s Operations Excellence program supports the adoption of advanced technologies, robotics, and artificial intelligence, with the aim of enhancing the efficiency and quality of production processes.