07 Apr 2016
In Paris, France Yesterday 6th April 2016, MSC Cruises Signs Letter Of Intent For The Construction Of Up To Four New Advanced Next-Generation Prototype Ships Extending Its 10-Plus Years, €9 Billion Investment Plan To An Unprecedented 11 New Cruise Ships
MSC Cruises, the Swiss-based world's largest privately-owned cruise line and brand market leader in Europe, South America and South Africa, announced today that it has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with STX France for the construction of up to four over 200,000 GRT LNG-powered cruise ships. The additional four new ships, the first one of which would be delivered in 2022, will be based on an advanced new next-generation prototype and will form what will be known as the “World Class” of MSC Cruises ships. This major announcement was made at the Élysée Palace Paris, France, in the presence of the President of the French Republic, François Hollande, MSC Group's Founder and Executive Chairman, Mr Gianluigi Aponte, and STX France's CEO Mr Laurent Castaing.
MSC Cruises is the first global cruise line brand to develop an investment plan of this length and magnitude. Spanning a horizon of over ten years, from 2014 through to 2026, a total of up to eleven next-generation ships are expected to be built. The new orders would reflect an additional €4 billion investment, bringing the total value of the Company's 10-plus years investment plan to nearly €9 billion.
Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises Executive Chairman, declared: “Today's announcement is further proof that this industry presents significant opportunities for additional growth going forward for both our brand and product, as well as of our firm commitment to be best-positioned to capture them to the fullest. For this reason, our ten-plus year investment plan now encompasses up to eleven new MSC Cruises ships, coming into service between 2017 and 2026. It is also a reflection of our constant commitment to innovation, as we partner with STX France to design yet again a completely new prototype – already the sixth in our history. In yet another industry-first, the new MSC Cruise World Class prototype will feature a record-breaking, futuristically-conceived design that will make the ship a truly unique place to be at sea, whilst maximizing the open air space available to guests.
“Our long-standing focus on innovation will make the new prototype quite unlike anything currently existing in the cruise industry. It will be: the richest in amenities and features for all guests, including families,; cutting edge in design; feature the latest and best state-of-the-art smart technology at sea as well as use the most-advanced environmentally-friendly technology available. Moreover, it will be a ship for all seasons and for all regions.”
The four ships provided under the LOI – two firm orders and two further options – will be delivered in 2022, 2024, 2025 and in 2026. They will feature a GRT in excess of 200,000 tonnes, more than 2,700 cabins and approx. 5,400 lower berths occupancy capacity.
MSC Cruises' investment plan includes current orders with STX France for two Meraviglia and two further Meraviglia-Plus Class ships as well as orders with Fincantieri shipyard in Italy for up to three next-generation Seaside Class ships. The €9 billion investment plan encompassed the recently completed €200 million Renaissance Programme with four of the current 12 of the Company's fleet, already the most modern at sea within Europe, which was also carried out by Fincantieri.
Laurent Castaing, STX France Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We have just signed an unprecedented agreement with MSC Cruises which will give us a vision of our industrial capacity for the next ten years! We have had a good relationship with MSC Cruises for many years now, and this new agreement strengthens this further. We have already designed four different classes for MSC Cruises– Opera, Musica, Fantasia and Meraviglia – each with four ships, and now we are working together on this new generation of “World Class” ships. By 2026, a total of 20 ships will have been designed and built by STX France in Saint-Nazaire.”
CONTACT
Marketing Department MSC Cruises (Australia & New Zealand) Pty Limited
marketing@msccruises.com.au
02 8076 1019
MSC Cruises, part of the MSC Group, is the number one cruise line in Europe, South America and South Africa, and sails year-round in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Its seasonal itineraries cover northern Europe, Cuba and the West Indies, South America, Southern Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. MSC Cruises feels a deep responsibility for the environments in which it operates, and was the first company ever to earn the Bureau Veritas "7 Golden Pearls" for superior management and environmental stewardship. In 2009, MSC Cruises began an enduring partnership with UNICEF to support various programmes assisting children worldwide. So far, more than €3m has been collected in voluntary guest donations. MSC Cruises was born in the Mediterranean, and draws inspiration from this heritage to create a unique experience for holidaymakers worldwide. Its fleet comprises 14 modern ships: MSC Preziosa; MSC Divina; MSC Splendida; MSC Fantasia; MSC Magnifica; MSC Poesia; MSC Orchestra; MSC Musica; MSC Sinfonia; MSC Armonia; MSC Opera, MSC Lirica. and the 2 newest ships MSC Meraviglia and MSC Seaside, which are now available for sale. In 2014, MSC Cruises launched a €5.3 billion investment plan through the order of two ships of the Meraviglia generation and two others of the Seaside generation (plus an option for a third) and in February 2016, confirmed the existing options to build a further two Meraviglia Plus ships with an even greater capacity. This means seven new ships will enter MSC Cruises' fleet by 2021, enabling the Company to double its capacity to more than 3.4 million passengers a year.
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