With one world-class liquefied natural gas-powered vessel already in service and another to be delivered by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in 2025, MSC Cruises still has options for two more with the French shipbuilder.
The MSC World America (World class 2), whose delivery ceremony took place this week, is the 19th ship that MSC Cruises has commissioned from Chantiers.
Laurent Castaing, CEO of Chantiers, declared: “We are ready to build our twentieth ship with the company, and to achieve even more. We have no shortage of ideas. We love challenges. And we are ready.”
Castaing also stated that, “in terms of sustainability, the shipyard is far ahead of current regulations and those that will be in place in a few years. Furthermore, we are also going to make progress, especially by using bioLNG.”
Underlining the importance of the LNG-powered MSC Euribia “for its high performance,” Castaing also recalled the moment the order was placed as “the fastest we have ever received.” In fact, it was received in less than fifteen minutes.
“Pierfrancesco Vago only asked me two questions: Could I build a fifth Meraviglia ship for that price, and do I know how to build the best environmentally friendly ship at the time of its delivery?
I answered yes to both. We shook hands, the deal was closed, and shortly afterward the contract was signed.
This is an example of what two men can achieve when they trust each other. And what two companies can accomplish when they contribute to saving not only the sea, but also the planet“.
An attitude also praised by Gianluigi Aponte, founder, owner and president of MSC: “MSC Euribia is the new benchmark in environmental protection and the most energy-efficient ship in the world. It stands as a model of sustainability for the maritime industry. A result we owe to our joint effort and our shared ambitions with Chantiers.”
Patrick Pourbaix, head of MSC Cruises in France, stated: “We are very optimistic about all the new technologies installed and those yet to be installed. Furthermore, we are fortunate that MSC has the necessary resources to fulfill its ambitions and Chantiers has the capacity to execute them perfectly.
With a 57% market share in France, MSC Cruises is the market leader, Pourbaix stated, and with no new ships now until 2025, “We are going to continue to drive this market and be super efficient in terms of the product we deliver.”
