Orient Express Unveils World's Largest Sailing Ships

In true maritime tradition, the keel-laying and coin-placing ceremonies mark the official birth of the Orient Express Corinthian, the largest sailing yacht in the world.

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By Priyal Dutta
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Orient Express Sailing Yachts Celebrate Significant Milestone in Their Maritime Journey: Keel Laying and Steel Cutting of the World's Largest Sailing Ships at Chantiers de l'Atlantique

The sailing yacht's keel was laid at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, 10 months after cutting the first steel plate.

Keel Laying for Orient Express Sailing Yachts

Orient Express and Chantiers de l'Atlantique celebrated a symbolic dual ceremony, marking a new chapter for Orient Express Sailing Yachts. In true maritime tradition, the keel-laying and coin-placing ceremonies mark the official birth of the Orient Express Corinthian, the largest sailing yacht in the world.

The keel for the sailing yacht was laid at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, just 10 months after the cutting of the first steel plate. During the ceremony, Sébastien Bazin, President and CEO of Accor Group, Philippe Hetland Brault, CEO of Silenseas—the ship-owning and operational entity of Orient Express Sailing Yachts—and Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique, lowered the first 606-ton steel block into the dry dock. In keeping with maritime tradition, executives from the cruise company and the shipyard placed newly minted coins on the initial steel piece to wish for good fortune throughout the ship's construction and future voyages. 

Over the next two months, 13 additional steel hull blocks and three balestron blocks will be carefully lifted and assembled by two large gantry cranes to form the ship’s metallic hull, scheduled to launch in June. Once completed, the ship will be moved to an outfitting dock for its final construction phase until delivery. 

The Orient Express Corinthian measures 220 meters long and features 4,500 m² of sails distributed across three tilting masts that rise 100 meters above sea level. Over the last decade, Chantiers de l'Atlantique has been developing the SolidSail concept. In optimal wind conditions, the ship can sail solely on its sails, attaining speeds of up to 17 knots, which surpasses the typical speed of engine propulsion. 

The hybrid propulsion system will integrate wind energy with a powerplant fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG). Orient Express's dedication to sustainability has led to the implementation of various additional features, including an AI detection system designed to protect marine mammals by preventing collisions and reducing underwater noise pollution, as well as dynamic positioning technology that minimizes the yacht’s impact on the seabed, allowing it to avoid anchoring in shallow, sensitive areas. These initiatives promote a balanced coexistence with the ocean and its ecosystems. Furthermore, the itineraries for Orient Express Corinthian have been carefully crafted to harness wind power, with collaboration from routing experts in the international sail racing scene resulting in innovative routing solutions.

STEEL CUTTING CEREMONY FOR ORIENT EXPRESS OLYMPIAN

Maritime traditions progressed with the steel cutting ceremony for the second yacht in the Orient Express Sailing Yachts fleet, symbolically launching the industrial phase of the Orient Express Olympian, a sister ship to the Orient Express Corinthian. This name reflects the ambition and grandeur of the world’s largest sailing yachts. The initial part of 80,000 pieces for the yacht’s hull was cut during the ceremony. The ceremony occurred at Chantiers de l’Atlantique’s steel cutting workshop, where three plasma cutting machines continuously operate.

These maritime traditions embody a shared commitment to excellence and sustainability and are among the most significant achievements in innovation. They also mark the continued partnership between Orient Express and Chantiers de l’Atlantique, a collaboration pushing the boundaries of luxury yachting and engineering mastery. 

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Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor

"Orient Express’ universe knows no bounds—a realm of dreams, discovery, connection, movement, and emotion. With Orient Express Corinthian and Orient Express Olympian, the Orient Express legend is set to sail the world’s most beautiful seas, offering an unprecedented travel experience and an authentic discovery of shore destinations. Inspired by the golden age of luxury travel, Orient Express Sailing Yachts reinvents motion and comfort on water while being designed to meet the sustainability challenges of today and the future. A source of pride for all of us," said Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor.

Laurent Castaing reconduit à la tête des Chantiers de l'Atlantique
Laurent Castaing, GM, Chantiers de l’Atlantique

"With the celebration of these two industrial milestones, we are witnessing the birth of exceptional ships that will enter the legend of the most beautiful and high-performing vessels created here in Saint-Nazaire. Today, we are also taking partake in a major advance in the decarbonization of the maritime industry. This technological breakthrough is the result of 10 years of research and development on the SolidSail concept and the historical expertise in naval architecture and shipbuilding of Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Thanks to Orient Express, the world’s largest wind-powered yacht will set sail: we appreciate their trust in this pioneering project – an incredible industrial, and above all, human adventure.” - Laurent Castaing, General Manager, Chantiers de l’Atlantique

The Orient Express Corinthian is scheduled to set sail in June 2026 with itineraries across the Mediterranean, Adriatic, and Caribbean. This sailing yacht features a sleek profile, a technological jewel engineered by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, and interiors designed by Maxime d’Angeac, the Artistic Director of Orient Express. The Orient Express Corinthian will offer 54 suites with panoramic views of the sea, including six penthouse suites on deck 7, all of unprecedented sizes in the cruise market. With an impressive crew ratio, the ship will provide five restaurants, eight bars and lounges, an amphitheatre, a cinema room, a recording studio, and a spa wellness centre.

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