MSC Cruises goes greener, orders third and fourth LNG-powered ships
MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique further extended their long-term partnership by making a number of strategic announcements, focused on the development and utilization of next-generation environmental technologies, at a ceremony held at the Matignon Palace, the French Prime Minister’s official residence. First, the two companies 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 the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire and is due to enter service in 2022. With 205,000 GT, she 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 EUR 2 billion and are expected to generate 14 million additional working hours.
MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique also extended their partnership over the next decade with two additional projects. First, the companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the development of yet a new prototype class of LNG-powered cruise ships to operate under the MSC Cruises brand. For this project, MSC Cruises, the shipyard 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 EUR 4 billion and an extra 30 million working hours for the yard, the suppliers and subcontractors involved in the project.
A second MoU sees MSC Cruises partnering with Chantiers de l’Atlantique in the development of yet another innovative prototype ship class concept with which they will explore opportunities that wind power and other advanced technologies could bring to passenger shipping.
“The three agreements extend our investment plan up to 2030. They stem from an exceptional partnership, with Chantiers de l’Atlantique, which has already delivered 15 highly-innovative cruise ships over the past two decades. 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,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, MSC Cruises.
Laurent Castaing, General Manager, Chantiers de l’Atlantique, also commented: “We are both committed to shaping the cruise of tomorrow and to developing ship concepts which go far beyond current environmental standards. Our companies have already been working together for 20 years and these new projects allow us to look enthusiastically to the future.”
