Fincantieri completed the float out of the Virgin Voyages' second cruise ship (currently under construction).
The float out was a major milestone for both the shipbuilder and the cruise company (future shipowner) after the long suspension due to the pandemic. Fincantieri started to scale up production in May 2020.
Virgin Group's second newbuild - Valiant Lady - left drydock on May 20 and was moved to the shipyard's outfitting berth - at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponte Yard (near Genoa Italy). The vessel's assembly had commenced in March 2019 and it was originally scheduled to be floated out in March 2020. However, because of the Coronavirus-forced shipyard closure, works were suspended for ~2 months, which also will delay the ship's delivery to Virgin Group.
Virgin initially scheduled Valiant Lady's inauguration for May 2021. Fincantieri's fitting-out period is ~1 year. No updates have been announced for the introduction of the Valiant Lady.
Valiant Lady is the second of 4 planned units (on order from Virgin Group) at total value EUR 3 billion. The 110,000 GT liner is sistership to Scarlet Lady - delivered to Virgin in February 2020.
The two other newbuilds (on order from Fincantieri) are scheduled for deliveries in 2022 and 2023.