Swiss-headquartered MSC Cruises has partnered with STX France to produce two LNG-powered cruise ships, with options for two additional vessels.
Equipped with newly developed LNG-powered engines and a new generation waste water treatment system, the first of the STX France-built ships will be delivered in 2022, followed by the second in 2024.
Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises, said: “We are delighted to confirm another key component of our ten-year investment plan: the World Class. These new vessels will further expand our partnership with STX France all the way to 2026, with up to seven additional innovative ships to be built during this period.”
The 330m vessels will include 47m of beam, while the G bows on the ships will be vertically positioned at a 90-degree angle to improve stability and hydrodynamics.
The World Class building project was announced as MSC Cruises unveiled its latest vessel MSC Meraviglia.
MSC Cruises estimates two more vessels could be ready in 2025 and 2026.
Last year Shell signed a supply agreement with Carnival Corp to supply LNG to fuel two vessels due to be in service by 2019.
