MSC Cruises go boom

[Nick the Greek]

A more than EUR 1bn ($1.72bn) order for two 3,887 passenger cruiseships for MSC Crociera has been won by French shipbuilder Chantiers de l'Atlantique.

The vessels which are significantly bigger than the 150,000-gt Queen Mary 2 in passenger capacity but rather smaller in tonnage are nevertheless the largest cruise vessels to be ordered by a European owner.

Chantiers parent company, Alstom, today confirmed that the long awaited deal had been finalised and the new vessels would be delivered in the spring of 2008 and the spring of 2009.

Privately owned Crociera MSC is a fast growing cruise line.

MSC Crociera is the cruise offshoot of the privately owned container shipping empire of Gianluigi Aponte.

No tonnages were disclosed but the 333 metre long 38 metre broad vessels are believed to run to about 130,000-gt.

The passengers will be housed in some 1,650 cabins and be looked after by a crew of more than 1,300.

“This largest ever firm order won by Chantiers de l’Atlantique is a true demonstration of MSC Cruises’ confidence in our capabilities. We are proud to bring our contribution to the impressive growth of MSC in the cruise market worldwide,” said Patrick Boissier, president of Alstom’s marine operation.

Alstom has already built two 800 cabin vessels for the same owner, the MSC Lirica and MSC Opera, delivered respectively in March 2003 and May 2004.

Two other 1,275 cabin cruise ships, the 90,000-gt MSC Musica and MSC Orchestra, are currently under construction at the Saint Nazaire yard for delivery in 2006 and 2007. These newbuildings will raise the MSC cruise fleet to nine vessels with the latest contracts lifting the number to eleven.

The 2,620-passenger Queen Mary 2 was delivered by French shipbuilder Chantiers de l'Atlantique in 2003.

Source: TRADEWINDS