Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has started building the first of two liquefied natural gas-powered cruise ships for Princess Cruises, part of Carnival Corporation, in San Giorgio di Nogaro, Italy.
Back in 2019, Fincantieri and Princess Cruises signed an agreement for the construction of the two next-generation LNG-fueled cruise ships.
The steel cutting of the first LNG cruise ship started at Centro Servizi Navali, a company specialised in logistics and production of sheet metal for the Fincantieri yards located in northeastern Italy and the ship will be built in the Monfalcone yard.
At 175,000 gross tons, the spherical pressure vessels (‘’sphere vessels’’) are said to be the largest eco-friendly ships built in Italy so far.
Each eco-friendly vessel will accommodate approximately 4,300 guests and will be the first Princess Cruises ships to be dual-fuel powered primarily by liquefied natural gas (LNG). LNG is expected to significantly reduce air emissions and marine gasoil usage.
Princess Cruises operates a fleet of 14 cruise ships visiting 380 destinations around the globe.
Earlier this year, Fincantieri delivered an eco-friendly cruise ship to the cruise line Holland America Line (HAL), also a part of Carnival Corporation.