The new Ponant ship Lyrial was launched at Fincantieri today, and will be delivered to the French luxury expedition brand in spring of 2015.

The ceremony was attended by Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée, CEO of Ponant, Véronique Saade, Deputy CEO of the company and, by Fincantieri, the Director of the Ancona shipyard John Stecconi. Godmother to the ship was Gohagan Virginia, wife of Thomas P. Gohagan, CEO of Thomas P. Gohagan & Company, a travel agency in Chicago.

This is the fourth ship in a series of sisters delivered to the brand since 2010 by the Italian yard.

The ship is about 11,000 gross tons, is 142 meters long and can accommodate 260 passengers in 122 cabins.