SOUTHAMPTON-BASED cruise company Cunard has announced that it is to add a fourth ship to it fleet, and it will be the biggest vessel in the company’s history.

The 3,000-passenger liner will be Cunard’s first new ship in 12 years and will join Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth.

It will be the 249th to fly the famous company’s flag and when it joins the fleet it will mean Cunard will have four ships in service for the first time since 1998.

Cunard’s parent company Carnival have signed a memorandum of agreement for the construction of the ship with Fincantieri in Italy.

As yet unnamed, the new 113,000-tonne ship will be built by in the Trieste yard – where ships for Viking Cruises, Seabourn and MSC Cruises are currently under construction – and is due to be launched in 2022, say Carnival.

It will be Cunard’s first new ship since the launch of the Queen Elizabeth, launched by Her Majesty The Queen in 2010 and is part of Carnival’s “ambitious plans” for the Cunard brand.

The company has recently invested £120 million in upgrading QM2 and Queen Victoria.

Cunard senior vice president, Simon Palethorpe, said: “We have only recently marked the 50th anniversary of one of Cunard’s much-loved ocean liners, the legendary QE2.

“What better way to celebrate her important role in Cunard’s past than by announcing our commitment to Cunard’s future with the commissioning of a new ship.”

Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation, said: “Cunard offers a fleet of unrivalled vessels and one of the most unique travel experiences in the world, which together create an enchanting and memorable vacation for our guests.

“While today’s news helps drive Cunard’s overall strategic growth plans, we also look forward to launching this next-generation cruise ship to help meet increasing global demand and entice even more travellers to explore the Cunard experience.”

Mr Donald added: “Fleet enhancement is an important part of our ongoing goal to exceed guest expectations. This includes replacing less efficient ships with more efficient vessels over time as part of our managed capacity growth.”

Fincantieri has built 78 cruise ships since 1990 (55 from 2002), 63 of which were for Carnival’s brands.