Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri cut the first steel today for Cunard’s newest ship.
The ceremony at Fincantieri’s Castellammare di Stabia Shipyard marked the construction start of the 249th ship in the British cruise line’s fleet.
“After years of planning and design, we are delighted to see building works commence on our newest ship. The 249th Cunarder will be our fourth luxury liner for the 21st century,” Simon Palethorpe, President of Cunard, commented on the occasion.
Scheduled for delivery in 2022, the yet-unnamed ship will be the second-largest ship to fly the Cunard flag. With a gross tonnage of 113,000 tons, it will be able to accommodate 3,000 passengers.
The first section of the ship is under construction at the abovementioned yard. The shipbuilding group previously delivered Cunard’s Queen Victoria in 2007 and Queen Elizabeth in 2010.
Based in Southampton, Cunard, part of Carnival Corporation, will celebrate 180 years of operation in 2020. The company operates three ships — Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria — which provide sailings in Europe, the Caribbean, the Far East and Australia.