Orient Express and Chantiers de l’Atlantique celebrated a double ceremonial event, witnessing the keel laying for the Orient Express Corinthian and first steel cutting for the Orient Express Olympian.
The company said in a press release that the keel laying ceremony was held for the Orient Express Corinthian only 10 months after its first steel was cut. The ship is expected to enter service in 2026 followed by the Olympian a year later.
The company additionally cut the first steel sheet for the Orient Express Olympian. Similarly to the Orient Express Corinthian, the metal hull of Orient Express Olympian will have its steel prepared in the Atlantic shipyard’s machine shop.
“With the celebration of these two industrial milestones, we are witnessing the birth of exceptional ships, born here in Saint-Nazaire,” said Laurent Castaing, managing director of Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
“Today, we are also witnessing a major step towards the decarbonization of maritime transport. This technological breakthrough is the results of 10 years of research and development on the SolidSail concept, and the historical expertise in architecture and shipbuilding of Chantiers de l’Atlantique,” added Castaing.
“With the Orient Express Corinthian and the Orient Express Olympian, Orient Express is ready to sail the most beautiful seas in the world, offering an unprecedented travel experience and an authentic discovery of coastal destinations,” said Sébastien Bazin, chairman and chief executive officer of Accor.
The ceremony in Saint-Nazaire saw Bazin, Castaing and Philippe Hetland Brault, chairman and CEO of Silenseas, call the gantry to place the first 606-tonne steel block of the new vessel in the dry dock. The company and shipyard executives then placed newly minted coins on the block.
According to the press release, another 13 blocks will be lifted and assembled over the next two months to form the ship’s metal hull, which will be launched in June. The ship’s construction will then continue along a quay in a fitting hold until it is delivered.
