The Orient Express Olympian is fitted with her masts

The Orient Express’s second luxury passenger ship is taking shape at the Penhoët dock in Saint-Nazaire. Chantiers de l’Atlantique are currently installing the gigantic Solidsail masts.

The OE Olympian, which is due to be launched in April 2026, just before the delivery of the OE Corinthian – the first sailing passenger ship designed by Chantiers de l’Atlantique – will soon be a fully-fledged large sailing vessel. The first of the three masts to arrive from the Solidsail mast factory in Lanester was placed on its mast base on Wednesday 28 October, and the second on Friday 30 October. The third will follow shortly afterwards.

The 220-metre-long vessel (26,500 UMS), with 54 ultra-luxury suites, will benefit from the experience gained from its predecessor, as well as from the Neoliner Origin. The ship will be fitted with reinforced Solidsail sails, following the discovery of cracks in the fibreglass membranes on the ro-ro cargo ship after several particularly rough transatlantic crossings last winter.

This new flagship of the Accor Group will undertake its first sea trials in December and January. It is due to be delivered in late spring 2027, one year after the OE Corinthian.

Source: Ouest France.
Image: Accor (Veronique Couzinou)

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