Fincantieri and Viking launch 'world's first' hydrogen-powered cruise ship; ink deal for two new units

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and Swiss cruise line Viking have launched the “world’s first” cruise ship to be powered by hydrogen stored onboard for propulsion and electricity generation.

The vessel named Viking Libra is currently under construction at the Fincantieri Ancona shipyard, with delivery scheduled for late 2026.

Viking Libra boasts a gross tonnage of approximately 54,300 tons and a length of 239 meters. The ship was designed to navigate and operate with zero emissions, featuring a hydrogen propulsion system, that combined with fuel cell technology, will be able to produce up to 6 MW of power, the shipbuilder said.

Isotta Fraschini Motori (IFM), Fincantieri’s subsidiary specializing in advanced fuel cell technology, will provide tailor-made solutions for the Viking Libra.

As disclosed, the vessel will feature “first-of-a-kind solutions” to load and store hydrogen directly onboard the ship thanks to a containerized system to overcome supply chain constraints. Hydrogen will power a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell system optimized for cruise operations, designed and produced by IFM.