Yesterday at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone there was the delivery of the “Queen Elizabeth”, the new flagship of Cunard Line, Carnival Group, the world’s leading cruise operator. Following the “Queen Victoria”, built in  Marghera in 2007, the “Queen Elizabeth”, voted “ship of the year”, is the first vessel Monfalcone shipyard has built for Cunard and the second “Queen” Fincantieri has delivered to the prestigious British brand.

Cunard Line, which was founded in 1840, is an icon of British tradition and classical style: over 170 years of seafaring and a glorious record of transatlantic service with liners which have made maritime history.

Present at the ceremony were David Dingle, CEO of Carnival UK and Peter Shanks, President and Managing Director of Cunard Line while Fincantieri was represented by the company’s CEO Giuseppe Bono and its Chairman, Corrado Antonini.

At 90,400 gross tonnes the 294-metre long “Queen Elizabeth” is the second largest ship ordered to date by the owner since the “Queen Mary 2”, and is one of the largest panamax vessels, i.e. capable of passing through the Panama canal. As the “Queen Victoria”, the new ship, is the natural development of the  “ocean liners” of Cunard, whose fleet  has –  throughout the centuries – reached worldwide acclaim.  Mini and luxury suites abound on board the superbly finished “Queen Elizabeth” whose 1,046 cabins  can accommodate over 2,500 guests assisted by a crew of 1,097.

In delivering the “Queen Elizabeth” Fincantieri further strengthens its high profile relationship with the British market, for which it has built 16 splendid ships. Since  1990 Fincantieri has delivered  56 cruise ships, of which 51 for the leading brands in Carnival Group. A further 9 vessels are due to be built at the Group’s shipyards within 2014.