The largest shipbuilding concern in the Netherlands, Damen, has formed a 50/50 joint venture with Italy’s T. Mariotti to build luxury yachts and cruise vessels.

The combine, Mariotti Damen Cruise, has signed a letter of intent with cruise line operator Seabourn to build two ‘ultra-luxury expedition’ vessels, Damen announced on Tuesday.

Both Damen and Mariotti are family-owned companies. Damen marked its 90^th anniversary in 2017, a milestone its Italian partner will celebrate its this year.

Mariotti is a leading builder of luxury yachts, while Damen operates in various sectors across the maritime industry. Damen said the partnership is ‘a complementary fusion of expertise and facilities that will focus on the construction of cruise vessels’.

Gorininchem-based Damen will make use of Mariotti’s expertise as well as with its own luxury yacht subsidies, which include Amels and its many shipyards in the Netherlands.

The cruise ship market is booming, with some 90 new cruise vessels planned through to 2026.