MSC has ordered a fifth ‘Meraviglia’ class cruise ship at STX, St Nazaire.
Due to be delivered in 2023, this vessel will be equipped with dual-fuel engines designed to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG).
She will also feature an advanced wastewater treatment system.
This announcement was made at a ceremony held at the St Nazaire shipyard at which STX France and MSC Cruises celebrated three shipbuilding milestones – the steel cutting ceremony of the 4th ‘Meraviglia’ class vessel to be named ‘MSC Virtuosa’; the coin laying ceremony of ‘MSC Grandiosa’; and the float-out of ‘MSC Bellissima’.
Speaking at the ceremony, Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman, said: “With the announcement of yet another new vessel, the 13th under our 10-year investment plan, we are affirming our commitment to sustainable growth for our company. I say this while three more next-generation MSC Cruises are now simultaneously under construction.
“Our fifth ‘Meraviglia’ class cruise ship will bring a new generation of cutting-edge environmental technology to the market, benefiting from a new generation of LNG-powered engines. This will help us further reduce our environmental footprint and advance in our journey of constant improvement. She will be joined at sea by up to four world class LNG-powered ships, as part of our overall commitment to environmental stewardship through this and other next-generation technologies and solutions deployed fleet-wide.”
The contract for the additional ‘Meraviglia-Plus’ ship represents an additional investment of €900 mill, MSC said.
‘MSC Bellissima’ is to be christened at Southampton on 2nd March, 2019, whilst ‘MSC Grandiosa’ will be christened in Hamburg in November’ 2019.
