Keel Laid For World’s First Hydrogen-Powered Cruise Ship

September 16th, 2025

Image for representation purposes only.

Keel has been laid for the first hydrogen-powered cruise ship in the world, at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona, Italy.

The vessel Viking Libra will also be the 14th sea-going newbuild for Viking Ocean Cruises.

It has been designed with sustainability in mind and is set to debut in December 2026.

In its maiden voyage, the ship will leave from Piraeus on a 10-day trip through the eastern Mediterranean.

It will continue sailing in the region till the end of 2026 before going for winter voyages in Northern Europe at the beginning of 2027.

It boasts a hydrogen propulsion system and advanced fuel cell technology, which would enable the ship to produce 6 megawatts of power.

The ship would not generate harmful emissions on its voyages and would visit some of the most environmentally sensitive regions of the world.

Shipyard employees and Viking leadership have stated that the ship sets a new benchmark for decarbonization in the cruise industry and demonstrates how hydrogen can be integrated into passenger shipping on a larger scale.

Although Viking Libra’s green propulsion system distinguishes it from other ships, its design is similar to that of other vessels in the company’s fleet, such as Viking Vela, which was delivered in 2024, Viking Vesta, delivered in 2025, and Viking Mira, which is scheduled for delivery in 2026.

These vessels have partial hybrid propulsion systems said to be hydrogen-ready, meaning they could be retrofitted in the future.

Another hydrogen-powered cruise ship, the Viking Astrea, is scheduled to be delivered in 2027, highlighting the company’s long-term sustainability strategy.

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