Viana shipyards net cruise ship contract

The shipyards at Viana do Castelo in the north of Portugal have won a contract from Norway to build a zero carbon emissions cruise ship.

The shipyards, which are operated by West Sea – a Martifer Group company – were chosen by Norwegian company Northern Explorer to develop what will be the first zero carbon cruise ship in the world.
The cruise ship will operate in the fiords along the coast of Norway. It will take 250 passengers and should be ready in time for the 2025/26 tourism season.
Ship building company West Sea which has had the sub-concession to run the Viana shipyards for the past eight years, signed a ‘Letter of Intent’ with Northern Explorer in September.
“With the financial backing of investors linked to the tourism industry in Norway, Northern Explorer will create a new and environmentally friendly cruise ship running on hydrogen cell batteries that will be able to sail while producing zero emissions” says West Sea CEO, Vítor Figueiredo.
The deal was concluded at the SMM Fair in Hamburg and the project will involve a consortium that includes other European naval sector companies such as ABB Technology (supplying the 100% electric propulsion system).
Since it has taken over the sub-concession of the Viana shipyard, West Sea has built 17 maritime vessels, including 10 river cruise ships, three polar expedition ships and two military ships. It has also repaired 320 ships and undertaken four conversions.
In 2021, the naval construction/repair business made €9.1 million in profits (72% from Martifer) and had a turnover of €91.7 million (40% of the group’s total).
The Viana shipyards employ 380 and at the end of the first half of 2020 had orders worth €243 million.

Photo Credit: Robert Cranna