Vard are pleased to announce the delivery of Viking Octantis, the first of two expedition vessels from VARD to Viking.
The safest way to explore
Viking Octantis has a length of 205 meters and a beam of 23,5 meters, especially designed and developed for comfortable expeditions in the Arctic, Antarctica and North America’s Great Lakes. The vessel hosts 378 guests in 189 staterooms.
Characteristics of the vessel are a straight bow, longer hull and state-of-the-art fin stabilizers that allows the ship to glide over the waves for the calmest possible journey. The ice-strengthened Polar Class 6 hull will provide the safest way to explore in polar regions, and the u-tank stabilizers will significantly decrease rolling when the ship is stationary.
Viking Octantis is an amazing and unique ship, the very first in its class. – Attilio Dapelo, General Manager for Business Unit Cruise in VARD
Largest vessel built by VARD
Attilio Dapelo, General Manager for Business Unit Cruise in VARD says: “Viking Octantis is an amazing and unique ship, the very first in its class. It has been an exciting and challenging process to develop and build this vessel, and I would like to thank the Viking team for the trust and excellent cooperation. With its length of more than 200 meters, is Viking Octantis the largest vessel built by VARD so far, and I would like to express my gratitude to each and everyone involved in the project for their dedicated effort and commitment to secure delivery according to plan.”
VARD signed the Letter of Intent (LOI) for the two cruise vessels with Viking in April 2018. The contracts for the vessels became effective in July 2018. On the 22nd of December 2020, the float out ceremony of Viking Octantis took place at Vard Tulcea in Romania. The vessel arrived Vard Søviknes in Norway in July 2021, for further outfitting, testing and finalization.
“She will be a fabulous experience for the passengers on board and a great workplace for its crew.” – Arnt Inge Gjerde, Yard Director at Vard Søviknes
One common goal
Several of VARD’s and Fincantieri’s specialized subsidiaries have been heavily involved throughout the shipbuilding process, and the building of Viking Octantis has engaged a broad range of suppliers and partners. In the final stage of the outfitting phase, it has been more than 1000 workers on board.
Arnt Inge Gjerde, Yard Director at Vard Søviknes says: “We all had one common goal – to deliver the vessel before Christmas. And we did it! Despite all the challenges posed by the pandemic, we have nevertheless managed to complete the building, outfitting, testing and successful sea trial of the vessel. We are all looking forward to seeing Viking Octantis in operations. She will be a fabulous experience for the passengers on board and a great workplace for its crew.”
