Viking has taken delivery of its newest oceanographic vessel, the Viking Vela. The delivery ceremony took place at the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona, Italy.
Classified as a small ship, like all Viking ocean-going vessels, the Viking Vela features 499 cabins and a capacity for 998 passengers. This new ship joins the company's growing fleet and will spend its inaugural season sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
“We are proud to welcome our new sister ship to our award-winning ocean fleet,” said Torstein Hagen, president and CEO of Viking. “Together with Fincantieri, we have built the most elegant small ships in the world. With the arrival of our newest vessel, we look forward to introducing more curious travelers to Viking’s unique style of exploration.”
Viking is working on a partial hybrid propulsion system for its future ocean-going vessels, based on liquid hydrogen and fuel cells. This system would allow the company to operate with zero emissions in the Norwegian fjords and other sensitive environments. Although the Viking Vela uses a traditional propulsion platform, it has been designed to be hydrogen-ready, allowing for future retrofitting.
The delivery of the Viking Vela follows a series of recent accolades for the company. Viking has received several awards in recent years for its river and ocean vessels, excelling in the luxury, river, and expedition categories.
Follow cruise news at Cruisesnews.es
