Chantiers de l'Atlantique cuts steel for Orient Express CorinthianChantiers de l'Atlantique cuts steel for Orient Express Corinthian

Formerly it was referred to as Orient Express Silenseas.

Chantiers' first sail-powered cruise ship

The 220-meter/722-foot yacht ordered in January 2023 will be the first sail-powered cruise ship built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique, and it will operate under the French flag, probably the Registre International Français, one of six French registries.

Its three 100-meter/328-foot masts will each be equipped with a 1,500-square-meter/16,146-square-foot Solid Sail/AeolDrive rigid and foldable unit.

The hybrid propulsion system is also able to run on LNG.

A reference ship

Orient Express Corinthian will be a reference from an environmental point of view, according to Arnaud Le Joncour, Chantiers' commercial director and manager for the Orient Express Silenseas program. The shipyard developed the Silenseas concept, which uses wind propulsion via its Solid Sail technology, and unveiled it at Seatrade Cruise Global in 2018. 

Orient Express Corinthian should be able to reach a speed of 15 knots while saving some 40% in fuel consumption.

French sail propulsion pact

The steel-cutting ceremony was attended by French Industry and Energy Minister Roland Lescure and State Secretary for the Sea and Biodiversity Hervé Berville. The ceremony provided the occasion for the ministers to sign a sail propulsion pact with the players in this emerging sector. This reinforces the government's commitment to innovation, decarbonization and the greening of the commercial fleet.

It also confirms France's support for wind propulsion advocates engaged in reducing the maritime sector's environmental footprint, with the ambition of achieving a 30% global market share in the coming years.

Sister yacht and option for two more

Planned as the quintessence of luxury, Orient Express Corinthian will have 54 suites with an average size of 70 square meters/754 square feet and a 530-square-meter/5,705-square-foot presidential suite.  

A sister yacht is scheduled to join the fleet in 2027. The contract also includes an option for two additional vessels.