MSC firms up newbuild contracts

MSC Cruises has signed a firm contract with shipyard Chantiers de l’Atlantique for the construction of the line’s third and fourth LNG-powered World Class ships, scheduled to join the fleet in 2025 and 2027.

The new construction contract represents a capital investment by MSC of more than €2 billion, and adds to the existing build of two vessels in the same class, with the first ship currently being built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard and due to enter service in 2022.

MSC Cruises also extended an agreement with the shipyard for the development of a new prototype class of LNG-powered cruise ships to operate under the MSC Cruises brand.

The focus will be on developing emerging environmental technologies to meet The International Maritime Organization’s sustainability vision for 2030 and 2050.

The cruise line has also green-lighted an agreement to investigate an “innovative prototype ship class concept”, which will explore the avenues of wind power and other advanced technologies to see what they can offer the cruise sector.

“The three agreements signed today extend our investment plan up to 2030,” said MSC’s Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago.

“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,” he added.

Pictured: Chantiers de l’Atlantique General Manager Laurent Castaing and MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Gianluigi Aponte sign the new contract extensions in Paris, France.