EMEA News
MSC Cruises Backs LNG Bunkers with Mega-Cruise Ship Order
Swiss-based MSC Cruises Wednesday announced it has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with STX France for the construction of up to four liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered cruise ships.
The four ships provided under the LOI – two firm orders and two further options – will be delivered in 2022, 2024, 2025, and in 2026.
With an approximate 5,400 lower berths occupancy capacity and a GRT in excess of 200,000 tonnes the vessels will rival Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class - currently the biggest in the world - and will be based on a "new advanced next-generation prototype" that will form what will be known as the "World Class" among MSC Cruises' ships.
"Our long-standing focus on innovation will make the new prototype quite unlike anything currently existing in the cruise industry," said Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, MSC Cruises, who added that the vessels will use "the most-advanced environmentally-friendly technology available, all the way through the LNG-propelled engines."
The ships will be "for all seasons and for all regions."
The order is part of MSC Cruises' "10-Plus Years" plan that could see the world's largest privately-owned cruise line introduce up to eleven ships through 2026, with a combined investment of $10.2 billion.
STX will build the ships in Saint-Nazaire.
"Today's announcement is further proof, if needed, of our view that this industry presents significant opportunities for additional growth going forward for both our brand and product," said Vago.
The news follows Carnival's multi-billion dollar backing for LNG bunkers last June.
Talking to Ship & Bunker at the time, Carnival's Roger Frizzell told Ship & Bunker that choosing LNG bunkers was the "right move" - a notable endorsement from an operator who in Q1 2016 burned 816,000 metric tonnes (mt) of conventional bunkers.
