With Europe’s leading cruiseship builders fully booked for years ahead, expedition vessel owners have turned their attention to shipyards previously focused on the offshore and cargoship markets.
Norway’s Vard, in which Fincantieri has a majority of the shares, Ulstein Group and compatriot Kleven Yards are among the offshore players to have scored orders.
But others have elbowed in on the action, including Portuguese newcomer WestSea Viana and Croatian builders Uljanik and Brodosplit — the latter pair more associated with tankers, car carriers and bulkers.
