| Virgin order effective

CONTRACTS for three new cruise ships between Fincantieri and Virgin Voyages (CW 20 Oct) have come into effect.

The 2b agreement will see the three units built at the shipyard in Sestri Ponente, Genoa with delivery scheduled for 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively.

Each will be about 110,000 gross tonnes, be 278m long and 38m wide and have a capacity for more than 2,800 passengers.

Meanwhile, Fincantieri has established a local arm, Fincantieri Australia and will open a new Australian headquarters in Canberra soon.

The office will be led by Dario Deste, chairman of Fincantieri Australia and supported by Mark Purcell, svp Fincantieri Australia.