Fincantieri: "Le Soleal" Delivered in Ancona

"Le Soléal", the third of three super-luxury cruise ships built by Fincantieri for the French cruise line Compagnie du Ponant, was delivered at the Ancona shipyard today.

"Le Soléal", whose size and characteristics make it very much like a mega-yacht, is a unique niche product and will be the cruise line's new flagship. Targeting a select clientele, it is designed to offer passengers a unique experience, with its small size letting it reach destinations inaccessible to larger vessels.

The new ship, which will fly the French flag, is approximately 11,000 gross tonnes, 142 metres long and 18 metres wide. It can accommodate more than 260 passengers in 132 cabins and suites, all with a sea view, 94% of which have a private balcony.

Like with its twins "Le Boréal" and "L'Austral", the Bureau Veritas classification society has assigned "Le Soléal" not only an ice class, for navigation in polar and sub-polar regions, but also "Clean Ship" and "Comfort Class" certifications, by virtue of the ship's latest-generation technology for reducing environmental impact, noise and vibration.

"Le Soléal" differs from the two previous ships for the innovative design of its public rooms, all developed for the first time entirely by Fincantieri with products and craftsmen selected by a special in-house team, and equipped, like all the cabins, with a latest-generation energy-saving lighting system using only LEDs made in Italy. Fincantieri's newest build also has a different coloured hull and higher installed power to allow more flexibility in cruise planning.

The Compagnie du Ponant, based in Marseille, has a fleet of three cruise ships targeting the super-luxury market, which has now been expanded with the addition of "Le Soléal". Founded in 1988, today the company is a member of the Bridgepoint Group.

Fincantieri has built 65 cruise ships since 1990, of which 42 since 2002. Another 9 ships are being built or due to be built in the Group's yards.