Norwegian offshore shipbuilder VARD says it has signed a letter of intent to construct 4 expedition cruise ships for French cruise firm Ponant.

The new vessels shall be developed by Vard, Ponant and Vard’s guardian firm, Fincantieri, from a earlier collection of 4 luxurious vessels delivered by Fincantieri to Ponant between 2010 and 2015.

Vard says the ice-class expedition cruise vessels shall be roughly 10,000 gross tons, about 128 meters lengthy, 18 meters large and can have a cruise velocity of 15 knots. Each vessel can accommodate 180 passengers in 92 cabins and a crew of 110.

Delivery is scheduled from VARD in Norway within the interval summer season 2018 to summer season 2019. Vard says all companions have a typical intention to enter into contracts in 2Q 2016, topic to a number of circumstances being met, together with passable financing.

CEO and Executive Director Mr. Roy Reite commented, “This project is fully in line with our diversification strategy to enter the expedition cruise market, realizing synergies and increased cooperation with our majority owner FINCANTIERI. We look forward to become acquainted with PONANT and their team, and we are honored to have been chosen as the preferred partner in this project.” Roy Reite continues: “Through our long shipbuilding history we have built a broad range of specialized vessels, and we are delighted to be part of developing the new series of luxury expedition cruise vessels for PONANT.”