H2 on the High Seas and Rivers: Fincantieri Constructing World's First Hydrogen-Fueled Cruise Ship for Viking

    April 10, 2025
    The Viking Libra is under construction at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard and scheduled for delivery in late 2026. Viking’s hydrogen powered ocean ship, the Viking Astrea, is also under construction and is expected to be delivered in 2027.
    Image credit Viking/Business Wire
    67f7c11a89c9d01d0aac3fb0 Vikingstar Flam 1

    Cruise line Viking is working with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to build two hydrogen-powered (H2) passenger vessels scheduled to go into operation later this decade.

    When launched, the H2-powered Viking cruise ships would move through the waters without releasing greenhouse gas emissions from propulsion systems. Hydrogen does not contain carbon in its molecular chain.

    The Viking Libra is under construction at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard and scheduled for delivery in late 2026. Viking’s hydrogen powered ocean ship, the Viking Astrea, is also under construction and is expected to be delivered in 2027.

    Viking calls this the world’s first commercial H2-powered cruise liner.

    “From the outset, we have designed our river and ocean ships thoughtfully to reduce their fuel consumption, and we are very proud the Viking Libra and the Viking Astrea will be even more environmentally friendly,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking, in a statement. “Viking made the principled decision to invest in hydrogen, which offers a true zero-emission solution. We look forward to welcoming the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship to our fleet in 2026.”

    The Viking Libra will have a gross tonnage of approximately 54,300 tons, with 499 staterooms that can host 998 guests. The ship will have a propulsion system featuring fuel cell technology enabled by Isotta Fraschini Motori (IFM). The propulsion system be based partially on liquefied hydrogen and fuel cells.

    Fuel cells utilize an electrochemical process to convert fuels such as natural gas or hydrogen into electricity without combustion emissions. The 6-MW hybrid propulsion system will help the ship navigate and operate with zero emissions and allow access to the most environmentally sensitive areas.

    While hydrogen is both carbon-free and abundant in nature, it must be commercial produced either through carbon-intensive steam reforming of methane gas or through electrolyzation. Electrolyzers separate the H2 molecule from water. To be classified as truly “green hydrogen,” the electrolyzers would be powered by carbon-free resources such as solar, wind, hydro or nuclear.

    Viking and Fincantieri also announced contracts for two more ocean ships for delivery in 2031 and an option for two additional ocean ships for delivery in 2033. Viking expects to take delivery of 26 additional river ships by 2028 and 11 additional ocean ships by 2031. The company will have 110 river ships in 2028 and 23 ocean and expedition ships in 2031 with the orders.

    The global shipping industry, both cargo and cruise liners, are aiming for decarbonization. Container shipper Maersk is developing its biofuel-based ECO Delivery Solution, while the American Bureau of Shipping is conducting a study exploring the option of ammonia—which also is low emission and generated somewhat like hydrogen—as a marine fuel alternative.

    Other shipping lines are testing liquified natural gas, which is a fossil fuel but has a lower carbon profile than diesel.

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    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.