Star Clippers will not be adding a new ship to its fleet next year, primarily due to world economic conditions, according to Mark Carlson, the line’s director of marketing.

“At this time we can’t forecast a year for the newbuild, but we are definitely moving forward with it,” he said.”In fact, we’re having a meeting in late April with Mr. (Mikael) Krafft (Star Clippers’ president and owner), and expect to let some cats out of bags.”

The line has already selected a shipyard to build the vessel, Carlson said, although he would not reveal the name, as “no formal agreement had been reached.”

Carlson did say, however, that the yard is based in Europe.

The 296-passenger, 7,400-ton ship was originally announced by the line in September 2007, and was slated to become part of the Star Clippers fleet in 2010.

Currently, Star Clippers operates three sailing ships in the Caribbean, Far East, Mediterranean and Tahiti.