Msc orders two new cruise ships in France
EUR 3.5 billion order for Chantiers de l'Atlatique. The units will be delivered to the shipowner in 2029 and 2030
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Msc Crociere has signed orders for the construction of two new cruise ships with French shipbuilder Chantiers de l'Atlantique. The order is the result of an investment worth a total of €3.5 billion. The agreement will bring the total number of World class vessels in the fleet of the company headed by the Aponte family to six. The two newly ordered ships, currently named World class 5 and 6, will be delivered in 2029 and 2030 respectively.
The Italo-Swiss group signed the agreement today in Paris, during a meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry of the Economy in Bercy, on the sidelines of the Choose France summit, the annual event initiated by President Emmanuel Macron to promote foreign investment in France.
Vessels refuelled with LNG and green fuels
The new ships will therefore join the flagships already in service, World Europa and World America, as well as World Asia and World Atlantic, currently under construction, which will enter into service in 2026 and 2027, respectively. With regard to environmental protection, all ships in this class are prepared for the use of various alternative fuels, including bio and synthetic LNG. The incoming ones will also be equipped with a dual-fuel internal combustion engine configuration, with new technology to further reduce methane emissions.
The new ships will have shore-side power connectivity (cold ironing) to reduce carbon emissions in ports, advanced waste water treatment systems designed in compliance with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), innovations in waste management, and a wide range of energy-saving equipment on board to optimise engine use and energy consumption in the hotellerie to further reduce emissions.
Vago: 'Confirmation of orders in line with business plan'
"Confirming the orders for two new World class ships," said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of Msc Cruises, "marks a new milestone in the continuation of our long-term industrial plan and in our extraordinary collaboration with the French shipbuilding industry. This milestone underscores our commitment to building some of the world's best-performing ships and creating innovation with Chantiers de l'Atlantique, our partner for more than 20 years. The highly successful World class platform combines the best in environmental technology with the latest advances in guest experience."
