Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has signed a contract to extend three cruise ships owned and operated by Seattle-based Windstar Cruises.
Under the EUR 200 million (USD 227.1 million) worth contract, the shipbuilder would undertake an extension and modernization project on Windstar’s cruise ships Star Breeze, Star Legend and Star Pride.
The works, expected to be partially financed through an export credit facility guaranteed by Italy’s export credit agency SACE, will be carried out by the Fincantieri Ship Repair and Conversion at the shipyard in Palermo.
The project, called the “Star Plus Initiative”, is scheduled to start in spring of 2019 with the construction of the first mid-body section. The works, which will require an average stop of about four months per unit at the shipyard, are expected to finalize by November 2020, with the delivery of the third and final vessel.
Fincantieri’s work will include three main activity areas, namely, lengthening of the mid-body by around 26 meters; the total renewal of nearly all the propulsion machinery including main engines, replacement of electrical generators and automation systems and other equipment; and extensive modernization of public areas, passenger cabins and open decks.
The three ships involved in this program currently have a length of 134 meters, with a tonnage of some 10,000 tons and a capacity of 212 passengers. On completion of these projects each ship will have a length of 160 meters, a tonnage of around 13,000 tons, and will have a capacity to accommodate 312 passengers.