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16/7/'13
Fincantieri bags a fourth Ponant newbuild order (**updated**) font size decrease font size increase font size Updated with more ship and deployment information.
Fincantieri said it signed a contract with Compagnie du Ponant to build a twin to the recently introduced Le Soléal. Delivery is scheduled for spring 2015.
The order goes to the Ancona shipyard.
The ship is fourth in a 142-meter series that began with Le Boreál in May 2010 and L'Austral in April 2011. Le Soléal was handed over in June.
Each 11,000gt vessel has 132 berths, and 95% of the accommodations sport balconies.
'For Compagnie du Ponant this order is another step towards the future that validates an effective business model,' said Ponant ceo Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée. He added that Fincantieri won the business 'after the excellent work achieved on the previous three yachts.'
'This new order marks a firm consolidation of our relationship with this prestigious cruise operator and allows us to secure a strong foothold globally in a very promising business segment,' according to Fincantieri ceo Giuseppe Bono.
'This encouraging achievement, coming shortly after other new orders, has been realized in a still difficult market and has been possible also thanks to the greater cohesion achieved within the company that bodes well for the necessary improvement in efficiency and competitiveness,' the Fincantieri chief said.
The new unit, a 'Cleanship' under French flag like the other vessels of Compagnie du Ponant, will sail Alaska in the summer and around Australia and New Zealand in the northern winter.
The interior design by architect Jean-Philippe Nuel is to be uncluttered, modern and refined, a style that contributed to the success of the first three ships.
'With their size and innovative design, these ships fit perfectly what our passengers are searching for and allow us to explore exceptional destinations with a high degree of comfort. This is the Compagnie du Ponant concept of five-star expedition and customized service,' said Veronique Saade, deputy general manager.
Luxury leader in the French-speaking markets—France, Switzerland, Belgium—and No. 1 worldwide in the Arctic and Antarctica, Compagnie du Ponant carried 20,000 passengers and had €85m turnover in 2012. The line is celebrating 25 years in 2013.
SOURCE
correct - it's no secret that several of their yards such as Ancona and Sestri had run out of work or were going to be out of work.
For a vessel of this size that is the fourth unit in a series, 20-22 months is about right for construction as it's a "lather, rinse, repeat" job.
Marina and Riviera each took @ 30 months from steel-cutting to completion but one was a prototype and the second had some significant structural changes. However, it was calculated that if an exact follow-up to Riviera were to be ordered, it would take 24 to 26 months from contract to delivery.
Tim
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