Viking orders 10 more river cruise ships

The first two ships are scheduled for delivery in August and September 2013, the other newbuilds will be delivered by April 2014. Neptun says that this new order brings the total number of new vessels to be delivered to Viking to 10 in 2013 and eight in 2014. In addition options for a further eight vessels with delivery in the Spring 2015 have been signed.

The ships are of 135m length oa, 11.45m beam and 1.6m draught, and will be powered by a diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system. Onboard electricity will be generated by solar panels. The vessels will carry 190 passengers in 95 cabins, including nine suites, plus 31 crew cabins. They are designed for operation on various European rivers and also the Dutch inland waterways. Four of the latest batch are intended for operation on the Rhône.

“We are very happy to continue our excellent partnership with Viking River Cruises and look forward to a long-lasting relationship in building these luxurious river cruise vessels” said Manfred Müller-Fahrenholz, Neptun managing director.

These orders will help secure employment at Neptun Werft and its many regional suppliers and contractors. The river cruise ships, plus the German research ship Sonne, on which work has just begun, and the joint LNG tanker projects with parent yard Meyer Werft are expected to keep Neptun fully occupied for more than two years.