Double ceremony at Sestri Ponente:
Launch and cutting of the first sheeting for Oceania Cruises

Genoa, 26 February 2010

Today at Fincantieri’s shipyard at Sestri Ponente (Genoa), there was the launch of “Marina”, the first ultra luxury cruise ship which Fincantieri is building for the US shipowner Oceania, scheduled for delivery at the end of 2010. At the same time as the launch there was also the cutting of the first sheeting of the second sister ship, whose first section will be built initially at the shipyard of Castellammare di Stabia.

Present at the ceremony were Frank J. Del Rio, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Oceania Cruises and Enrico Buschi, Director of Operations of Fincantieri.

Oceania Cruises is one of the most prestigious players in the niche market of ultra luxury cruises and currently boasts a fleet of three medium-sized ships.

At 65,000 gross tonnes the 9-deck ship is 251 metres long, 32 metres wide and can reach a cruising speed of 22 knots. Maximum passenger capacity is 1,260 guests and crew accommodated in 640 cabins almost all of which have a sea view and 83% with a spacious private balcony.

The vessel’s interior furnishings are finely appointed with close attention to passenger comfort. The whole design, the work of the Norwegian architects Yran & Storbraaten, was conceived to meet the tastes of a sophisticated, demanding public.

“This launch – commented Enrico Buschi – represent both a strengthening of relations with our new customer Oceania, a partnership which enables Fincantieri to defend a further business segment worldwide, and an encouraging signal for Sestri Ponente shipyard, the whole company and the entire national shipbuilding industry which is facing the threat of a collapse in demand from shipowners”.

Fincantieri