The Italian Shipbuilder Fincantieri Group, has signed a letter of intention, through the Norwegian subsidiary Vard, for design and construction of a new passenger cruise ship. The luxury vessel worth $118 million will be 145 meters long and 20 meters wide, and capacity to accommodate 220 passengers. With nine shipbuilding facilities worldwide the Norwegian Shipbuilder Vard has decided to build this cruise ship in Tulcea Shipyard in Romania. The name of the international cruise company who made the order for this ship was not revealed. The contract should become executive by the first quarter of 2017, and the vessel needs be delivered to the buyer in 2019. 

With 3620 workers Tulcea Shipyard is the largest private employer in Romania. The first vessel built in Tulcea was an ocean fishing ship. From fishing ships Tulcea switched to wide projects in April 2000, when the company was bought by Aker Brattvaag AS Norway. Today the shipyard builds icebreakers, passenger ferries bound for Norway, assistance ships for underwater installations and maintenance operating in oceans and Antarctica, and research ships. If the deal will be finalized, this will be first passenger cruise ship to be built by Tulcea Shipyard Romania.