Norwegian shipowner Torstein Hagen is cancelling tomorrow’s christening of newbuilding Viking Jupiter following a fatal collision involving one of his ships in Hungary last week.
The ceremony for the 750-foot vessel was due to take place near the Akershus castle to coincide with this week’s Norshipping event.
But the incident in the Danube at Budapest when one of his Viking Ocean Cruises ships collided with a river vessel has put paid to that plan.
A total of 28 people from the smaller boat are assumed dead and an investigation is underway into the incident.
“We cannot have a ship christening in light of what happened last week”, spokesman Jon Morland said.
A planned concert will however go ahead as planned tomorrow, but it is unclear whether the intended fireworks display will happen.
According to the Norwegian daily Dagens Naeringsliv, the pop group A-ha, Italy’s Andrea Bocelli, Sissel Kyrkjebo and the Norwegian male choir Solvguttene will be on stage.
Viking Ocean Cruises also hit the headlines in March when its 48,000-gt Viking Sky (built 2017) lost engine power off Hustadvika, Norway, prompting the airlift of 479 passengers to land, while about 20 others were taken to hospital for minor injuries.
