Currently under construction at the Fincantieri Ancona shipyard in Italy, the vessel is scheduled for delivery in late 2026. Additionally, a subsequent ship will also be delivered for Viking at the shipyard a year later – also hydrogen-powered and dubbed the Viking Astrea.

Fincantieri’s subsidiary, Isotta Fraschini Motori (IFM), will provide fuel cell technology tailor-made for the ‘Viking Libra’ cruise ship, capable of delivering 6MW of power. The vessel will be able to load and store hydrogen directly onboard the ship via its containerised system.

With a gross tonnage of approximately 54,300 tonnes and a length of 239 metres, the Viking Libra will accommodate up to 998 guests in 499 staterooms.

Furthermore, Fincantieri and Viking have signed an agreement for the construction of two new cruise ships for delivery in 2031, although they haven’t clarified whether these will also be hydrogen-powered.

“With the Viking Libra, we are not only delivering the world’s first cruise ship powered by hydrogen stored on board, but we are also reinforcing our commitment to shaping the future of sustainable maritime transportation,” explained Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri.

Last year, PowerCell secured an SEK 165m order for its hydrogen fuel cell systems from an unnamed Italian marine OEM for installation on commercial cruise ships.

The order consisted of 56 Marine System 225 units, with more than 6.3MW used to provide auxiliary power and another 3.2MW dedicated to internal testing. A separate 3.2MW will also be installed on a different vessel.