Two further LNG liners for MSC Cruises

The two companies extended their long-term partnership by making a number of strategic announcements at a ceremony at the Matignon Palace, the French prime minister’s official residence.

Firstly, contracts worth €2bn were signed for the construction of the third and fourth LNG-powered World Class ships, to be delivered in 2025 and 2027. The first of the initial two ships in class in currently under construction at Chantiers’ shipyard in Saint-Nazaire and is due to enter service in 2022.

The companies also extended their partnership with two additional newbuild projects over the coming decade, a €4bn development of four new prototype class LNG-powered cruise ships and a further prototype ship class concept exploring wind power opportunities for passenger shipping.

Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman, of MSC Cruises, 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 ten years.

“They also confirm that 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.”