While Color Line has signed a letter of intent for two high-speed passenger day ferries with Aker Finnyards, slated for deliveries in 2007 and 2008, they also signed an agreement to design a new cruise vessel for delivery in 2009.
The two high speed ferries will be able to accommodate 1,800 passengers and have 2,000 lane meters of vehicle space.
The contract value is approximately 232 million euros. Aker Finnyards is also building the 325 million euro, 75,000-ton cruise ferry Color Magic for the Norwegian operator, a sister ship to the Color Fantasy which was delivered in December 2004. In addition, the Norwegian Coastal Express (Hurtigruten) is continuing to test warmer cruise waters.
The company which has capacity to carry some 90,000 cruise passengers along the coas of Norway, also has two ships in South America during the (southern) summer season, and plans to sail three cruises in the Mediterranean in conjunction with one of it ships being used for accommodations during the Winter Olympic Games in Italy this winter. The cruises will be marketed in Norway.