Fincantieri build for France

The new ship will be the sister ship to Le Soleal, the mini cruise ships delivered last month, and follows L’Austral and Le Boreal, delivered in May 2010 and April 2011.

Like the previous three ships, it will be built at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard using the latest environmentally friendly technology.

Fincantieri says it expects the new vessel to be similar to its sister ship, Le Soleal.

Jean-Emmanual Sauvée, CEO, Compagnie du Ponant, said: “For Compagnie du Ponant this order is another step towards the future that validates an effective business model and strengthens our partnership with Fincantieri, which has been entrusted with building this fourth sister ship after the excellent work achieved on the previous three vessels.”

The new 11,000 gross tonne vessel, which will have a cruise speed of 16 knots, will measure around 142m in length and 18m wide.

Because of its small size, Fincantieri says it will be able to reach ports and destinations inaccessible to larger vessels.

The ship will cruise in Alaska during the summer and in Australia and New Zealand in the winter.

The new ship is scheduled for delivery in the spring of 2015.