Cruise ship with partial hydrogen-based propulsion to move towards zero emissions

Project leaders

The project is led by the cruise company Viking, in collaboration with Fincantieri, the shipyard responsible for building the vessel, and Isotta Fraschini Motori (IFM), a Fincantieri subsidiary specialising in advanced fuel cell technologies and responsible for developing the hydrogen-based energy system.

Project description

This case presents the development of the Viking Libra, the first cruise ship with a propulsion system partially based on liquefied hydrogen and fuel cells. On the one hand, hydrogen is integrated as part of the vessel’s energy system, without necessarily replacing all the alternative fuels used on board.

On the other hand, fuel cells are electrochemical devices that receive a continuous flow of hydrogen and oxygen, trigger a controlled chemical reaction, and directly generate electricity to power part of the ship’s propulsion or onboard systems. Since there is no combustion, no direct CO₂ emissions are generated during this operation.

The initiative addresses one of the major challenges facing the cruise industry: the decarbonisation of a maritime segment with high energy demand and complex operational requirements.

On 19 March 2026, Fincantieri floated out the Viking Libra for the first time at its Ancona shipyard, confirming that the project had entered an advanced construction phase. The ship is expected to be delivered by the end of 2026 and to begin its inaugural season on routes across the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

This case shows how innovation in sustainable cruise shipping can move forward not only through operational or efficiency improvements, but also through a transformation of the vessel’s propulsion system. It opens up new possibilities for lower-impact maritime mobility within the blue economy.

Viking cruise ships have been calling at the Port of Tarragona for several years. In 2026, 17 calls are scheduled, representing a significant increase compared with previous years and demonstrating the consolidation of cruise traffic at the Port of Tarragona. In fact, by 2027, Viking plans to add the Viking Aestra and the Viking Mira to its fleet, both of which are also expected to operate Mediterranean routes.

Project objectives

The aim of the project is to demonstrate the feasibility of a cruise ship model capable of incorporating liquefied hydrogen and fuel cells as part of its propulsion system, with the capacity to operate with zero emissions in certain environments and thereby advance the progressive decarbonisation of the cruise segment.

Publication date

May 7th 2026.

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