MSC to Develop Two New Prototype Ship Classes

MSC Cruises has extended its fleet expansion program through 2030. The cruise line and Chantiers de l’Atlantique extended their partnership in a series of announcements at a ceremony at Matignon Palace, the French Prime Minister’s official residence. 

First, the two companies announced the signing of firm contracts for the construction of MSC Cruises’ third and fourth LNG-powered MSC World Class ships, to be delivered in 2025 and 2027. The first of the initial two ships in the class is currently under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire and is due to enter service in 2022. With 205,000 GT, she will become the biggest vessel operated by a European cruise line as well as the first LNG-powered cruise ship built in France, MSC said. Compared to standard marine fuel, LNG decreases sulphur emissions and particulate matter by 99 percent, NOx emissions by 85 percent, and CO2 emissions by 20 percent, the cruise line said.

MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique also extended their partnership over the next decade with two additional projects. First, the companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the development of a new prototype class of LNG-powered cruise ships to operate under the MSC Cruises brand. For this project, MSC Cruises, the shipyard and other partners will focus on developing emerging environmental technologies in line with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) vision for 2030 and 2050. 

A second MoU sees MSC Cruises partnering with Chantiers de l’Atlantique in the development of another prototype ship class concept with which they will explore the opportunities that wind power and other advanced technologies could bring, the cruise line said. 

The three new agreements represent an investment in excess of EUR 6.5 billion (≈$7.2 billion USD).

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