Orient Express and Chantiers de l’Atlantique recently celebrated a dual ceremony, opening a new chapter for Orient Express Sailing Yachts. The keel-laying and coin placement ceremonies marked an important milestone in the construction of Orient Express Corinthian, “the largest sailing yacht in the world.” Additionally, the steel cutting ceremony was held for Orient Express Olympian, the second yacht in the fleet.
Orient Express Corinthian’s keel-laying took place at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, just 10 months after the cutting of the first steel plate. Attendees including Sébastien Bazin, president and CEO of Accor Group, Philippe Hetland Brault, CEO of Silenseas, the ship-owning and operational structure of Orient Express Sailing Yachts, and Laurent Castaing, general manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique, lowered the first 606-ton steel block for the new ship in the dry dock. As part of the longstanding maritime tradition, executives from the cruise company and the shipyard placed newly minted coins on the first piece of steel to bestow good luck on the ship during both the construction process and future sailings.
Orient Express Corinthian spans more than 720 feet long and has 48,437 square feet of sails spread across three tilting masts, reaching 328 feet above sea level. The SolidSail concept has been developed over the past 10 years by Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Under optimized wind conditions, the ship will be able to navigate under sails only and reach speeds of up to 17 knots, exceeding the standard engine propulsion speed.
The hybrid propulsion formula will combine wind power with a powerplant running on liquefied natural gas (LNG). Orient Express’ commitment to sustainability has resulted in numerous additional "state-of-the-art" equipment such as an advanced AI detection system intended to protect marine mammals by avoiding collisions and minimizing underwater noise pollution, as well as a dynamic positioning technology that reduces the yacht’s impact on the seabed by eliminating the need to drop anchor in shallow sensitive areas. Orient Express Corinthian’s itineraries have also been developed to take advantage of the wind with special works in progress developed together with routing specialists coming in from the international sail racing world.
Maritime traditions continued with the steel-cutting ceremony for the second yacht in the Orient Express Sailing Yachts fleet, marking a symbolic launch of the industrial phase of Orient Express Olympian, sister ship to Orient Express Corinthian. The steel-cutting ceremony cut the very first of 80,000 pieces that will make up the yacht’s hull.
Orient Express Corinthian is scheduled to set sail in June 2026 with itineraries across the Mediterranean, Adriatic, and the Caribbean. The yacht will have interiors designed by Maxime d’Angeac, artistic director of Orient Express. It will offer 54 suites with panoramic openings to the sea, including six penthouse suites on deck 7. Facilities include five restaurants, eight bars and lounges, an amphitheater, a cinema room, recording studio and wellness center.
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