Fincantieri and Princess Cruises, part of the Carnival Group, have celebrated the delivery of ’Star Princess’, the second ship in the ‘Sphere’ class and the new flagship of the LNG fleet.
The ceremony at the Monfalcone shipyard was attended by, among others, Gus Antorcha, President of Princess Cruises, Mauro Bordin, President of the Regional Council of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Ester Fedullo, Prefect of the Province of Gorizia, Luca Fasan, Mayor of the Municipality of Monfalcone, Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and General Manager of Fincantieri, Biagio Mazzotta, President of Fincantieri, Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager of the Merchant Ships Division, Cristiano Bazzara, Director of the Monfalcone shipyard.
With a gross tonnage of about 178,000, ‘Star Princess’ is a sistership of ‘Sun Princess’, delivered in 2024, and is the second largest cruise ship to be built in Italy.
Equipped with dual-fuel propulsion and powered mainly by LNG, she represents a fundamental step in the path of de-carbonisation of the maritime industry, significantly reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants, Fincantieri claimed.
The ship will be able to accommodate over 4,300 passengers and is based on a next-generation platform design, which integrates the latest technological solutions to increase energy efficiency and environmental performance.
Princess Cruises operates a fleet of 17 modern ships that transport millions of passengers to over 330 destinations worldwide each year.
Pierroberto Folgiero, Fincantieri’s CEO and General Manager, commented: “’Star Princess’ is a symbol of our ability to build the future of the cruise industry, combining tradition and innovation.
“With this ship we confirm Fincantieri’s leadership in the construction of new generation, sustainable and highly technological units, which strengthen the competitiveness of Italian industry in the world.
“The Monfalcone shipyard, an authentic global point of reference, represents the highest expression of our competence and our knowhow: ships are born here that carry the name of Italy in the world and consolidate our country’s role as a world leader in shipbuilding,” he said.
The Monfalcone shipyard, Fincantieri’s production centre for the construction of cruise ships, has delivered more than 40 vessels since 1990 and will continue to build new record-breaking ships in the coming years, the shipbuilder said.
With the contribution of thousands of workers and a supply chain that generates over 23,000 jobs in total, it is a strategic asset for industrial growth, where manufacturing tradition, technological innovation and collaboration with universities and research centres come together in a unique model of excellence, Fincantieri added.
Elsewhere, a new ropax under construction for the Sicilian region has been launched at Fincantieri’s Palermo shipyard.
Her delivery is scheduled for the summer of 2026.
The new ferry, which was christened ‘Costanza I di Sicilia’, stands out for her advanced technological features, especially in terms of environmental sustainability, the shipbuilder claimed.
With a length of about 140 m and a gross tonnage of about 14,500, the ship will be able to carry up to 1,000 passengers and 200 cars, reaching a maximum speed of 19 knots.
Propulsion will be achieved by dual fuel engines, powered by marine gasoil and LNG. She will also be fitted with a photovoltaic system which, in combination with a battery pack, will allow the ropax to remain in port with zero emissions for about four hours.
With this ropax, designed with the aim of strengthening connections with the islands of Lampedusa, Linosa and Pantelleria, the Sicilian region will be the first in Italy to be the owner of a vessel of this type.
The contract’s signing ceremony, between the Sicily region and Fincantieri, took place in 2023, and also included the option for a second ferry.
Palermo plays a strategic role within Fincantieri’s production network. With over 500 direct resources and an allied industry that exceeds 2,500 employees in the region, the shipyard contributes to the construction of ship parts for the cruise sector and plays a primary role in the modernisation of cruise ships, responding to the growing demand for fleet updating and transformation.
