Deliveries include a large electric Ro-Pax for a South American operator, a hybrid ferry for deployment in Norway, and a river cruise ship for European itineraries. Construction continues on two cruise ships for a Swiss owner and electric city ferries for a Russian operator.
Viking has taken delivery of Viking Haki, a new 190-guest river cruise ship that will operate on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers in Europe.
The vessel can accommodate guests in 95 staterooms. As with her sister ships, her square bow provides space for three full decks while her terrace includes indoor and outdoor space.
An asymmetric corridor layout permits two-room suites.
Viking will deploy the ship on its eight-day Rhine itinerary between Basel and Amsterdam and 15-day European tour from Budapest to Amsterdam. The latter will include a transit of the 16-lock Main-Danube Canal between Kelheim and Bamberg.
Fincantieri floated out Explora V, the fifth cruise ship for MSC's luxury brand Explora Journeys and held the coin ceremony for the sixth vessel, Explora VI at its Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa on Monday, October 26.
Explora V is scheduled for delivery at the end of 2027. Explora VI is expected to be operational by summer 2028, completing the six-ship programme. Explora IV is due for delivery in spring 2027.
MSC's investment in the six vessels, all built in Italy, exceeds €3.5 billion. Fincantieri said the first three ships, the most recent of which was delivered in July, are sailing at full capacity.
Like Explora III and Explora IV, the final two ships will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). They are also prepared to operate on bio-LNG, synthetic LNG and biofuels. Explora VI will be equipped with fuel-cell technology, and Explora V is designed to accommodate it.
Russian shipbuilder Emperium has launched the hybrid ferries Kronstadt (Кронштадт) and Vyborg (Выборг) at its facilities in Otradnoye in Leningrad Region.
The pair are the last of six Project EM901 or Moskva 2.0 series vessels ordered by State Transport Leasing Company (GTLK) for leasing to Vodohod subsidiary Vodohod Passenger Port. The order was placed under a fleet renewal project financed from Russia's National Wealth Fund with support from the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
The shipyard described the launches as technical launches. Work will continue aboard both vessels on commissioning the power plants and control systems and completing the interiors.
Operating routes will be determined by the customer after trials and acceptance by the Russian Classification Society.
Uruguayan operator Buquebus has commenced sailings of China Zorrilla, the world's largest fully electric ferry.
The 130-metre ferry constructed by Australia's Incat Tasmania has completed her maiden commercial voyage between Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Colonia, Uruguay.
The battery-powered vessel can transport 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles.
China Zorrilla's entry into service followed an official launch ceremony in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, 21 October.
Norwegian operator Torghatten Nord has taken delivery of Misterøy, an all-electric double-ended Ro-Pax ferry constructed by Turkey's Özata Shipyard for the Festvåg–Misten connection north of Bodø.
The ferry will serve the road link between Bodø and Kjerringøy in Nordland County under a 10-year operating contract that began on January 1, 2025.
The vessel was built to a design by the Norwegian Ship Design Company. She has an LOA of 76.85 metres, a beam of 15.8 metres, and space for 60 vehicles and 195 passengers.
The new ferry has half the vehicle capacity of Torghatten Nord's 117-metre Hinnøy, which was delivered in 2025 for the Bognes–Lødingen route. She can meanwhile carry twice as many cars as the smaller Helgøy, which recently began sea trials.
