(Ancona / Italy) – The world's first hydrogen-powered cruise ship has been launched. Now, the final construction phase begins at the shipyard of the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri SpA. The "Viking Libra" is scheduled for delivery in November of this year and will then embark on sea trials from the Mediterranean to Northern Europe.
The dry dock at Fincantieri's Ancona shipyard has been flooded. The "Viking Libra" is scheduled to embark on its maiden voyage in November. © Viking River Cruises Inc.
“The floatout is another milestone for Viking and Fincantieri,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “From the outset, our approach to ship design has focused on reducing fuel consumption, and the Viking Libra is our most environmentally friendly ship to date.” The ship was moved from the dry dock to a nearby outfitting dock for final interior work in a two-day process.
Karine Hagen, Vikings Executive Vice President of Product, at the Fincantieri shipyard. © Viking River Cruises Inc.
The Viking Libra, with a gross tonnage of 54.300 tons (GT), has 499 cabins for 998 passengers. Its six-megawatt propulsion system is based on liquefied hydrogen and fuel cell technology from Fincantieri subsidiary Isotta Fraschini Motori (IFM). This allows the zero-emission vessel access to regions closed to other vessels for environmental reasons. The companies are already working on its sister ship, the hydrogen-powered Viking Astrea, which is scheduled for delivery in 2027.
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Finally, the sea: The world's first hydrogen-powered cruise ship was launched in Ancona, Italy. Final work and interior outfitting are now beginning. © Viking River Cruises Inc.
