It was hoped, it is now official. While the Saint-Nazaire construction sites are currently running at full capacity, two new constructions will help to further clear the horizon. This Monday, Chantiers de l’Atlantique announced the confirmation of the order for two new ships powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the Italian-Swiss shipowner MSC Cruises. “In addition to this firm order, there is an option for a fifth ship in the same series,” the company said in a press release.
These two ships called World Class 3 And 4must be delivered in 2026 and 2027. The first of the family (Europe) was completed in October 2022 while the second, called Americawill be delivered in spring 2025.
“MSC Cruises, always looking for a rapid and significant reduction in the environmental impact of its ships, has accepted a significant additional cost in order to improve the energy efficiency of these new ships,” indicates general manager Laurent Castaing in the press release, which does not mention the total cost. The new liners will notably rely on “heat recovery” to try to further reduce their carbon footprint.