MSC selects Alstom for two cruise-ships

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has just selected ALSTOM as the builder of its new generation of cruise-ships. The contract calls for ALSTOM to construct two 1,275 cabin cruise-ships, with an option for a third sister-ship. It will enter into force once the financing arrangements have been put in place by MSC and the first vessel is slated for delivery in June with the second in spring 2007.

To be built at the company?s main shipyard, Chantiers de l?Atlantique, the new pair will be 294 metres long, just over 32 metres wide, will comply with the Panamax standard and are designed for cruises in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. The design of the newbuildings will offer passengers unrivalled sea views with around 80% of the cabins having windows overlooking the sea while three quarters of these cabins will also have balconies. The ships will be able to carry up to 3,000 passengers and 1,000 crew members.

When signing the contract, Patrick Boissier, President of ALSTOM’s Marine Sector, said: “We are proud that MSC has chosen to grant us its confidence in selecting us for the construction of two new large cruise-ships, and we are delighted to contribute to the success of our customer in the cruise market. From our point of view, this order results from the fruitful cooperation which has existed between our two companies over the past three years. What is more, it backs up the right choice we made in positioning ALSTOM Marine on the cruise-ship market, which will continue to grow on the medium- to long-term”.

Chantiers de l?Atlantique has already constructed one 800 cabin cruiseship, MSC Lirica, for MSC and will deliver a sister-ship, MSC Opera, in May this year.

In addition to these new orders, ALSTOM Marine?s order book comprises the cruise-ship, MSC Opera, two LNG carriers for Gaz de France, two Landing Helicopter Docks (LHDs) built in cooperation with DCN for the French Navy, one car ferry for SeaFrance, one oceanographic vessel for Ifremer, and a yacht of over 70 metres in length.