Fincantieri has signed a memorandum of agreement for the construction and design of two new-generation luxury expedition cruise vessels for Ponant, a subsidiary of Artemis Group (holding company of the Pinault family).

The deal is valued at 300 million Euro and includes an option for a sister ship. 

Both new ships will be delivered in 2022 for Paul Gauguin Cruises.

Fincantieri said the ships would represent an evolution of the Ponant Explorer class of vessels, which saw two vessel deliveries in 2018, two more this year, and two scheduled for next year. 

The ships will be built by VARD group and be about 11,000 tons each with capacity for 230 guests. 

Jean Emmanuel Sauvée, CEO of Ponant commented: “We are delighted to continue our historic collaboration with Fincantieri. This agreement for two additional ships allows us to develop Paul Gauguin brand acquired a few weeks ago and consolidates our position as the world leader of luxury expedition cruise. For the first time in the world of cruising, these two new vessels will cut their engines and cease all emissions each day during each stop, for nearly ten hours per day. Small-capacity ships at the cutting edge of technology and environmental preservation: this project fully matches our philosophy of sustainable tourism.”

The CEO of Fincantieri, Giuseppe Bono, stated: “We cannot but welcome with great pleasure the acknowledgement of the partnership with a ship owner like Ponant for this new-generation project, strongly inspired by environmental protection, which takes us to 13 units for them. The strengthening of the commercial relations with our clients, as well as the consolidation of the production network of the Group and of the synergies we develop within it, are the best possible feedbacks highlighting the success of our strategies”.