Deliveries include cruise ships for US and Swiss operators while construction has begun on a hybrid ferry for a customer on the US West Coast. The world's largest fully electric ferry has set out on her delivery voyage to South America. Lastly, a Russian design firm has begun development of a ferry capable of Arctic navigation.
Russian naval architecture firm Stapel has unveiled design images of a new Ro-Pax ferry that will serve the Taymyr Dolgano-Nenets Municipal District in northern Russia.
The Project RDB 56.06 vessel will be capable of coastal and inland navigation and will be equipped to load and offload passengers and vehicles even on unprepared shores.
Design work on the ferry is being undertaken in compliance with Russian Classification Society requirements including those under the ice30 notation, thus allowing her to serve a number of ports along the Northern Sea Route in the Russian Arctic.
Florida-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) has begun construction of three new hybrid Ro-Pax vessels ordered by Washington State Ferries (WSF).
The contract awarded to ESG had called for the construction of two vessels plus an option for an additional vessel. At the steel-cutting ceremony held at ESG's Panama City facilities on Wednesday, August 5, David Sowers, Program Administrator for System Electrification at WSF, said that the Washington State Government has accepted the option in the contract for a third ferry.
As part of the bid terms, ESG will deliver the first ferry in 2030, the second in 2031, and the third in 2032.
The world's largest fully electric ferry is now on board a heavy lift vessel and has departed on her delivery voyage to her new owner in South America.
Built by Australia's Incat, the 130-metre China Zorrilla will be operated by Argentina-based Uruguayan customer Buquebus. She will carry 2,100 passengers and 225 cars at 25 knots across the Rio de la Plata from Buenos Aires to Colonia six times a day, all on electric power.
Following the voyage to South America, the ferry will be offloaded before final commissioning and entry into service with Buquebus.
Viking Cruises has taken delivery of a new river cruise ship built by Neptun Werft of Germany.
Viking Dagur is a sister ship of Viking Annar, which was delivered by Neptun Werft earlier this year along with the slightly smaller Viking Fjolvar.
Viking Dagur has an LOA of 135 metres, a beam of 12 metres, a draught of only 1.7 metres, a gross tonnage of 3,140, and space for 190 guests and 53 crewmembers across four decks.
MSC Cruises' luxury brand Explora Journeys took delivery of a new cruise ship from Italian builder Fincantieri on Thursday, July 23.
Explora III is the third in a series of six ships that Fincantieri is building for Explora Journeys. The first two ships, Explora I and Explora II, were delivered in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
The RINA-classed newbuild has an LOA of 248 metres, a beam of 32 metres, and 461 all-balcony cabins housing 900 guests across 14 decks. One of the cabins has been laid out as an owner's residence with 280 square metres of indoor and terrace space while some of the other cabins provide access for wheelchair-bound guests.
