Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) supported the delivery of the Orient Express Corinthian, now recognized as the world’s largest sailing cruise ship, through its involvement in classification, design review and construction surveying. The vessel was delivered in April in Saint-Nazaire and started sailing in May, marking a key milestone for this innovative and iconic maritime project.
Built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique, the Orient Express Corinthian is the first vessel in the new Orient Express Sailing Yachts fleet, developed under the Orient Express brand. The project reflects a new generation of sailing cruise ships, combining large-scale wind propulsion with luxury hospitality, “a floating palace” bringing the Orient Express spirit to sea.
At approximately 220 meters in length, the vessel is equipped with three rigid sails with a total sail area of around 4,500 square meters, illustrating the scale and technical ambition of the project.
From design, early construction through to delivery, BV contributed through a coordinated effort across its global network. Construction surveying was carried out in Saint-Nazaire, while classification activities were performed to assess compliance with applicable rules and standards throughout the project.
Within this broader scope, BV’s advisory arm, Bureau Veritas Solutions Marine & Offshore (BVS), delivered targeted onboard expertise. This included noise and vibration measurements conducted in line with BV COMF notation, as well as crew exposure assessments to support compliance with French flag requirements. Together, these activities contribute to enhancing onboard comfort and helping ensure appropriate working conditions for crew members.
BV is also supporting the construction of its sister ship, Orient Express Olympian, currently under development at Chantiers de l'Atlantique.
Elisabeth Bicais, SVP Newbuilding, Orient Express Sailing Yachts, said: “Orient Express Corinthian brings hospitality at sea to the next level and is in the meantime the most energy-efficient vessel in her category and probably in the entire world fleet.”
David Barrow, SVP for Western Europe and Americas, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore said: "As the world’s largest sailing cruise ship, Orient Express Corinthian brings a unique level of complexity, particularly in balancing sailing performance with onboard comfort. Our Bureau Veritas teams worked closely with the shipbuilder and partners to address key aspects such as noise and vibration and crew exposure, while helping ensure the vessel meets its safety and compliance requirements".
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