Sponsored By

MSC Cruises orders LNG pair, signals new designs at Chantiers de l’Atlantique

MSC Cruises has ordered two large LNG-powered ships at Chantiers de l’Atlantique, a deal worth €2bn, according to the Elysée Palace in Paris.

Michèle Valandina, French correspondent

January 19, 2020

1 Min Read
MSC Grandiosa & Chantiers workers
Chantiers de l'Atlantique workers with ship's officers at the delivery of MSC Grandiosa in OctoberPHOTO: MSC CRUISES

World class 

The 6,761-passenger ships (each with 5,264 lower berths) will be delivered in 2025 and 2027.

These are the firmed pair of options for the 205,700gt World class, whose first, MSC Europa, is due in 2022, followed by a sister in 2024.
 
These contracts represent a capital investment by MSC Cruises exceeding 2bn and are expected to generate 14 million additional working hours, amounting to over 2,400 full-time equivalent jobs for the next three and a half years directly supported by those orders.

MOU for €4.5bn of additional ships

This firm order is accompanied by two memoranda of understanding, potentially worth €4.5bn in additional investments. 

New LNG design and a partly sail-powered ship

These MOU would entail a new LNG class of four ships and a prototype for a vessel partly powered by sails.

Elysée Palace issued the news on the eve of the ‘Choose France’ summit Monday in Versailles. According to the Elysée, the two 6,761-passenger ships will generate 14m work hours, corresponding to 2,400 jobs over 3.5 years. 

Meeting with the French prime minister

MSC Cruises founder Gianluigi Aponte and Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago were scheduled to meet with French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe and Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire on Monday.

Fifteen MSC ships have been built at Saint-Nazaire.

About the Author

Michèle Valandina

French correspondent

A graduate from Lyon University, where she specialised in foreign languages and American literature, Michèle worked as an interpreter/translator (English, German and Italian) for major international events before entering the diplomatic world for a few years. As a Paris-based freelance travel and lifestyle writer, she has been a contributor to a host of publications and has long specialised in two sectors: cruising and wellness. Her features have appeared in, among others, Le Monde, Le Figaro, Le Figaro Magazine, Les Echos Week-end and periodicals dedicated to the MICE sector. She has also featured on radio and TV travel programmes and, since 1992, has been the author of the only French cruise guide, Croisières Passion.

 

The latest cruise news, analysis and more straight to your inbox
Get the free newsletter read by industry experts

You May Also Like