MSC Cruises has extended fleet extension plans up to 2030, with a focus on next-generation environmental technology
MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique have announced the signing of firm contracts for the construction of MSC Cruises’ third and fourth LNG-powered MSC World-class ships, to be delivered in 2025 and 2027.
The first of the initial two ships in the class is currently under construction at Chantiers’ shipyard in Saint-Nazaire and is due to enter service in 2022. With 205,000 gt, it will become the biggest vessel operated by a European cruise line as well as the first LNG-powered cruise ship built in France.
These contracts represent a capital investment by MSC Cruises exceeding €2.0Bn (US$2.2Bn).
MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique also extended their partnership over the next decade with two additional newbuild projects. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop a new prototype class of LNG-powered cruise ships to operate under the MSC Cruises brand. For this project, MSC Cruises, Chantiers de l’Atlantique and other partners will focus on developing emerging environmental technologies in line with IMO’s vision for 2030 and 2050. The four vessels in this new class would represent a capital investment exceeding €4.0Bn (US$4.4Bn).
A second MoU sees MSC Cruises partnering with Chantiers de l’Atlantique in the development of a prototype ship class concept with which they will explore opportunities that wind power and other advanced technologies could bring to passenger shipping.
MSC Cruises executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said “The three agreements signed today extend our investment plan up to 2030. They stem from an exceptional partnership with Chantiers, that has already delivered 15 highly-innovative innovative cruise ships over the past two decades and will see many more vessels come to life at Saint-Nazaire’s docks in the next 10 years. They also confirm this industry’s commitment to environmental sustainability, in this case helping the French national industry further position itself as a world leader in the development of next-generation technologies and other solutions.”
Chantiers de l’Atlantique general manager Laurent Castaing said “…We are both committed to shaping the cruise of tomorrow and to developing ship concepts which go far beyond the existing environmental standards. Our companies have already been working together for 20 years and these new projects allow us to look enthusiastically to the future.”
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