Fincantieri awarded a contract of over 200 million eur by Windstar Cruises

November 17, 2018 – Fincantieri has signed a contract with Windstar Cruises (part of the Xanterra Travel Collection), owners and one of the main operators in the field of high-end small ship cruises, for an impressive extension and modernization project which will involve three cruise ships of the Windstar fleet, worth over 200 million euros, and which is expected to be partially financed through an export credit facility guaranteed by SACE, Italy’s export credit agency. The project will involve the cruise ships “Star Breeze”, “Star Legend” and “Star Pride” and will be carried out entirely by the Fincantieri “Ship Repair and Conversion” at the shipyard in Palermo.

 The works will start in spring of 2019, with the construction of the first mid-body section, and are scheduled for completion by November 2020, with the delivery of the third and final unit. The work will require an average stop of about four months per ship at the shipyard. The program, called the “Star Plus Initiative”, will involve three main activity areas: lengthening of the mid-body by approximately 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.

For the lengthening, a new mid-body section will be inserted in each of the ships which will comprise of some 50 additional passenger suites, which represent 47% more than the current capacity, 19 additional cabins for staff and crew, two new restaurants and additional space to be used as sun deck -pool area. The existing propulsion engines, gearboxes and diesel generators will be replaced with the latest generation of new IMO Tier III compliant engines with SCR’s; new gearboxes, engine auxiliaries and a new main switchboard. The modernization will also involve Multiple internal and external areas, in particular the pool deck, the SPA which will also be completely rebuilt and extended, and the “Owner Suites”. Some common crew areas will also be upgraded. The three ships involved in this program currently have a length of 134 meters, with a tonnage of approximately 10,000 tons and a capacity of 212 passengers. On completion of these projects each ship will have a length of approximately 160 meters, a tonnage of around 13,000 tons, and will have a capacity to accommodate 312 passengers.