Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri held the keel laying ceremony for Nieuw Statendam, the new cruise ship being built for Holland America Line, a brand of Carnival Corporation, at its shipyard in Marghera, Venice.
The first building block of the ship, 11.3 meters long, 34.8 wide and weighing about 260 tons, is part of the central section of Nieuw Statendam, due for delivery at the end of 2018.
The new unit, sister ship of Koningsdam, the new Pinnacle class ship delivered in March 2016 from the same shipyard, will be about 99,800 gross tons, almost 300 meters long, with accommodation for up to 2,650 passengers on board in more than 1,300 cabins.
The design will be created, as for Koningsdam, by Tihany Design and Yran & Storbraaten, with “ the architecture of music” being an inspirational element for the design of many public areas, the shipbuilder said.
“The ship’s technology is aimed at optimizing energy efficiency and minimizing environmental impact and it responds to the most demanding and current safety regulations,” Fincantieri said in a release.
Cruise shipping giant Carnival Corporation & plc has ordered another Pinnacle class vessel earlier this year within a deal for two more ships to be built by Fincantieri.
Holland America Line’s latest newbuilding will be built at Fincantieri’s yard in Marghera, with an expected delivery in 2021. It will be a 99,500 ton and 2,660-guest ship.
With the new agreement, Carnival Corporation now has 19 new ships scheduled to be delivered between 2017 and 2022.
Fincantieri has 31 ships currently being designed or built in the group’s yards.