Crisis exit for STX
Last year, STX and MSC Cruises signed a letter of intent to order the construction of two new generation cruise ships, Vista. This Monday, April 20, a major steel cutting ceremony for the first MSC Cruises ship marked the launch of the work. This ceremony was the occasion to discover the name of the future ship, MSC Meraviglia (Wonder in Italian). This is a godsend for the STX shipyards in Saint-Nazaire, which have been struggling and experiencing waves of partial unemployment for several years. This new liner will be delivered in 2017. A second unit will be produced at the Saint-Nazaire shipyard, to be delivered in 2019.
This âeuro contract for the two âeuro liners represents about 16 million working hours for STX France and its co-producers. 9 million for this first model and 7 million for the next. The total investment is estimated at 1.5 billion euros.
The number three cruise ship starts its " strategic development plan for the company." MSC Cruises plans to double its capacity by 2022 with seven new ships and a $5.1 billion investment plan.
An innovative, new generation vessel
With a length of 315 m and a width of 43 m, and a tonnage of 167,600 tons, the Meraviglia will be equipped with 2,250 cabins for passengers and 820 cabins for crew members. It will be able to accommodate 7250 people on board, including more than 5700 passengers. "This new prototype will be the largest cruise ship ever built for a European shipowner and the most important in terms of maneuverability, flexibility and leisure offerings: not only will it be able to sail to virtually any port and destination in the world, without compromise, but it will have extraordinary features that make it the ideal choice for a vacation at sea, whether in the Mediterranean in the summer from Marseilles or in the winter in the Caribbean. These new ships will reaffirm MSC Cruises' commitment to offering a choice of succulent and authentic meals as well as extraordinary entertainment offerings with new panoramic spaces, an even larger theater and a spectacular amusement park connected to a water park, not to mention the "indoor promenade" on two decks." mSC Cruises' CEO had announced in March 2014.
New features will be staterooms designed for families as well as a larger Yacht Club. The upper decks will host a large solarium, a lounge and private restaurants as well as duplex suites positioned on the front of the ship.
An ecological liner
This new ship will be the result of the Ecorizon program, led by STX France, which enables cleaner, more efficient and more technological ships. The MSC Meraviglia will not discharge any liquid waste into the sea and will have an optimized hull and propulsion system for better energy efficiency. The implementation of scrubbers will allow for the washing of fumes and will thus guarantee emissions that comply with the latest developments in international maritime regulations.
