Fincantieri to build a super luxury ship for regent Seven Seas Cruises Thursday, Jul 11, 2013
Fincantieri has received an order from Regent Seven Seas Cruises for the construction of a super luxury cruise ship.
The new ship will be called "Seven Seas Explorer". She will be assigned to Sestri Ponente (Genoa) shipyard and her delivery is scheduled in summer 2016.
The contract is worth approximately USD 450 million. SACE (Italy's export credit agency) has made a significant contribution to finalizing this deal thanks to its provision of export guarantees to the banking system, allowing Fincantieri to present the cruise line with a satisfactory package of technical, commercial and financial proposals.
With its 54,000 gross tonnes and 223 metres in length, "Seven Seas Explorer" will be the flagship of the fleet, with accommodation for 738 passengers in 369 spacious suites.
The new ship will be built using the very latest in environmental protection technologies. The interiors will be particularly sophisticated, with every attention paid to passenger comfort. The renowned studies of Tillberg Design AB, RTKL Associates and I-Crave will be in charge of interior design.
Commenting on the announcement, Fincantieri CEO Giuseppe Bono said: "I am extremely pleased with this new order, which is all the more important because it establishes our global leadership in this sector and strengthens our presence in the luxury segment with the addition of another prestigious brand to our client list, also thanks to the fundamental synergy created by the country through agencies designated to promote Fincantieri exports".
Frank Del Rio, chairman and CEO of Prestige Cruise Holdings, commented: "This new ship order represents an exciting time of growth for our company as we build the next generation of cruise ships for the world's most inclusive luxury cruise line," said Frank Del Rio, Prestige Cruise Holdings Chairman and CEO. "Seven Seas Explorer will be the most luxurious cruise ship ever built boasting one of the highest space ratios and staff-to-guest ratios ever seen in the modern era of cruising enabling us to deliver the highly personalized service and extraordinary experience that is the hallmark of the Regent brand".
Fincantieri is one of the world's largest shipbuilding groups, which in over 200 years of maritime history has built more than 7,000 vessels. It is world leader in cruise ship construction and a reference player in other sectors, from naval vessels to cruise ferries, from mega-yachts to special high value-added vessels, ship repairs and conversions and offshore vessels. Headquartered in Trieste, the Group has a total of nearly 20,000 employees, of whom 8,400 in Italy, 21 shipyards in 3 continents and total revenues of Euro 4 billion.
In fact, with its recent acquisition of STX OSV - a company listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange and now renamed VARD - the Group has doubled in size to become the world's number four shipbuilder after the top three players, all of which Korean, as well as the only western producer, by diversification and presence in every high value-added sector, capable of competing with the Asian giants. Fincantieri operates in the United States through its subsidiary Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG). This company, which serves both civilian and government customers, including the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, has three shipyards (Marinette Marine, Bay Shipbuilding, Ace Marine), all located in the Great Lakes region. Fincantieri is present in the UAE with Etihad Ship Building, a joint venture set up with Melara Middle East and Al Fattan Ship Industries, to design, produce and sell different types of civilian and military ships as well as perform maintenance and refitting activities
Since 1990 Fincantieri has built 65 cruise ships worth a total of dollar 28 billion. Regent Seven Seas Cruises is the world's most inclusive luxury cruise line. Fares include all-suite accommodations, round-trip air, highly personalized service, acclaimed cuisine, fine wines and spirits, sightseeing excursions in every port, gratuities and a pre-cruise luxury hotel package for those staying in a concierge or above suite. Three award-winning, all-suite vessels, Seven Seas Navigator, Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager, are among the most spacious at sea and visit more than 250 destinations around the globe.
Prestige Cruise Holdings is the parent company of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
PCH manages select assets in Apollo Management's cruise investment portfolio and is led by Chairman & CEO Frank J. Del Rio and President & COO Kunal S. Kamlani. PCH is the market leader in the upperpremium and luxury segments of the cruise industry with over 6,400 berths between the Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands.
