Explora Journeys (MSC Cruises), Bygg nr. 6319-6324 ved Fincantieri, 64,000 GT Cruiseskip "Explora I/II/III/IV/V/VI"

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MSC CRUISES ENTERS ULTRA-LUXURY SEGMENT BY PLACING ORDER FOR FOUR MORE SHIPS FROM FINCANTIERI

The first of this highly-innovative new generation of ships will come into service in Spring 2023

Geneva, Switzerland and Trieste, Italy, 18 October 2018 – MSC Cruises and Fincantieri today announced the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the construction of four ultra-luxury cruise ships for a total value in excess of EUR 2 billion.

The ships, the first of which will be delivered in Spring 2023, will have gross tonnage of approximately 64,000 GT and will feature 500 cabins. The remaining three ships will come into service one per year over the following three years.

The ships will feature, amongst other, the best and latest environmental technology and other cutting-edge maritime solutions at sea. They will also showcase highly-innovative design as well as introduce ground-breaking options for guest comfort and relaxation.

Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman, said: “It is off the back of the great success of our ship-within-a-ship luxury concept that our guests asked us to enter into the ultra-luxury segment, as a natural evolution of the MSC Yacht Club. These ships will be able to offer unique itineraries, thanks to their size, and the guest services will be taken to another level, including our personalised MSC Yacht Club butler service, available 24/7.

Mr Vago continued, “I am especially pleased to be able to further extend our partnership with Fincantieri through this new order. The award-winning Seaside and Seaside-Evo class have already been recognised as ground-breaking and innovative designs. We are now introducing another new class, which will establish a new standard of ultra-luxury at sea with ships that will showcase the quality and highest standards that are associated with Made in Italy.

Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, stated: “It is with pride that two great brands – an Italian one and one with a strong Italian DNA -, well-known all over the world, today announce an important construction program. We are extremely satisfied that, to launch a new class of ships in the luxury segment, MSC Cruises has recognized that our design will help them create a new generation of ships that will be cutting edge both in terms of safety and technological content, and with particular attention paid to passenger comfort. With this project Fincantieri can count on 53 cruise ships in its order book, confirming its position as absolute market leader”.
 
MSC CONFIRMS LUXURY SHIPS ORDER WITH FINCANTIERI

The four new vessels will be delivered by Fincantieri between 2023 and 2026

Geneva, Switzerland, and Trieste, Italy, 14 March 2019– MSC and Fincantieri announced today the signing of the final contracts for the construction of four luxury cruise ships.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC’s Cruises Division, said: “With this now firm order, MSC is entering a new segment that bears significant potential globally. While we already serve the premium market with the MSC Yacht Club featured on MSC Cruises’ fleet, our new true luxury brand will deliver to this separate and fast-growing segment with super-yacht vessels and an experience to match that. Additionally, we are proud to partner again with Fincantieri for the development and construction of yet again another highly-innovative and exclusive class of ships.”

Giuseppe Bono, Fincantieri’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Today’s announcement confirms our Group’s ability and strength to convert the soft backlog into backlog. We are proud to have achieved this important goal in less than five months from the preliminary agreement. Fincantieri’s reputation in a complex market such as the cruise one is at an all-time high. Our leadership in the luxury segment, among the most active ones, grows even stronger with these four ships, alongside our relationship with MSC and its growth plans.”

All four vessels will have gross tonnage of approximately 64,000 GT and will feature the latest maritime and environmental technologies available. Each equipped with 481 guest suites, they will also showcase a highly-innovative design and introduce ground-breaking options for guest comfort and relaxation.

This announcement follows the initial signing of a memorandum of agreement between the two parties in October 2018. The contracts, subject to shipowner financing, have a total value exceeding EUR 2 billion.

As per the terms of the agreement, the first of the four ships will be delivered by Spring 2023. The remaining three will come into service one per year over the following three years through 2026.

MSC is the cruises division of MSC Group, the world’s second largest transportation and logistics business. Under this umbrella will operate the new brand as well as MSC’s contemporary brand MSC Cruises, the leading cruise brand across Europe, South America, the Gulf as well as southern Africa. Fincantieri is the heir to the great tradition of Italian shipbuilding and one of the largest shipbuilding groups in the world.

Since starting to work with Fincantieri, in 2014, MSC has also ordered four ships for its contemporary MSC Cruises brand, for a value of EUR 3.2 billion. The first two of these vessels, MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview, are already in service. The next two vessels will be delivered in 2021 and 2023, with MSC Seashore already under construction at Fincantieri’s yard in Monfalcone.
 
Ut fra en artikkel i Mer et Marine i går kan det se ut som bestillingen er økt til seks fartøyer. Artikkelen er bak betalingsmur, så jeg ser bare overskriften og deler av ingressen:

MSC Cruises : six navires de luxe au lieu de quatre pour Fincantieri

Ce ne sont pas quatre mais six petits paquebots de luxe que l’armateur italo-suisse MSC Cruises compte faire construire aux chantiers italiens Fincantieri, a appris Mer et Marine. Alors que ce projet a été officialisé en 2018, et la commande des quatre premières unités confirmée l’année suivante, le design des bateaux et le nouveau produit qu'ils vont proposer devaient être dévoilés au printemps dernier. Mais la crise sanitaire est passée par là et les grandes annonces…

Uredigert Google-/Chrome-oversetting:
MSC Cruises: seks luksusskip i stedet for fire for Fincantieri

Det er ikke fire, men seks små luksusforinger som den italiensk-sveitsiske rederen MSC Cruises har til hensikt å bygge på de italienske verftene Fincantieri, har Mer et Marine lært. Mens dette prosjektet ble formalisert i 2018, og bestillingen av de første fire enhetene bekreftet året etter, skulle utformingen av båtene og det nye produktet de vil tilby avdukes i fjor vår. Men helsekrisen har gått forbi og de store kunngjøringene ...
 
Så dei har trua på at Cruisenæringa kommer tilbake og når nye høgder i og med at dei bestiller to skip til i desse tider nå alle skip ligger til kais eller til ankers

Dei fire første skal leverast i 2023, 2024, 2025 og 2026 - desse to nye da kanskje i 2027 og 2028 og da er vel COVID-19 komt i historiebøkene?
 
FINCANTIERI AND MSC CELEBRATE THE START OF CONSTRUCTION OF “EXPLORA I”, THE FIRST OF FOUR SHIPS TO BE BUILT BY FINCANTIERI FOR “EXPLORA JOURNEYS”, THE NEW LUXURY BRAND OF THE CRUISES DIVISION OF MSC GROUP

Trieste, Italy/Geneva, Switzerland, June 11, 2021 – The first steel of “Explora I”, the first of four new-concept luxury cruise ships that Fincantieri is building for Explora Journeys, the new luxury brand of the cruises division of MSC Group, was cut yesterday. The order for this class of ships, announced in 2018, is worth a total of over 2 billion euros. “Explora I" will be built at the Monfalcone yard with delivery in 2023.

The operation took place in San Giorgio di Nogaro (Udine) at the Centro Servizi Navali, a company specialized in logistics and production of sheet metal for the Fincantieri yards located in northeastern Italy. Attending the event were, among others, Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises, Michael Ungerer, CEO of Explora Journeys, and Fabio Gallia, General Manager of Fincantieri.

This milestone marks the launch of “Explora Journeys”, the new luxury brand created for the next generation of most demanding travelers. The ships will be delivered one per year between 2023 and 2026, and will provide guests journeys of discovery through destinations on and off the beaten path.

All four vessels will have a gross tonnage of approximately 64,000 tons and will feature the latest maritime and environmental technologies and solutions available. Each equipped with 461 guest suites, they will also showcase a highly-innovative design, also under the guests’ comfort and relaxation profile.

Including these four vessels, the partnership between Fincantieri and the cruises division of MSC Group counts 8 ships to-date: “MSC Seaside” and “MSC Seaview”, delivered in 2017 and 2018, and the 2 two enriched Seaside Evo ships “MSC Seashore”, to be delivered next month, and her sister ship, which will enter into service next year.

Kilde: Fincantieri
 

FINCANTIERI AND MSC CELEBRATE THE START OF CONSTRUCTION OF “EXPLORA II”

THE SECOND OF FOUR SHIPS THAT FINCANTIERI IS BUILDING FOR “EXPLORA JOURNEYS”, THE NEW LUXURY BRAND OF THE CRUISES DIVISION OF MSC GROUP

06 October 2021

Trieste, Italy/Geneva, Switzerland, October 6, 2021 – The first steel of “Explora II”, the second of four new-concept luxury cruise ships that Fincantieri is building for Explora Journeys, the new luxury brand of the cruises division of MSC Group, was cut today at the Castellammare di Stabia (Naples) shipyard. The order for this class of ships, announced in 2018, is worth a total of over 2 billion euros.
“Explora I” is under construction in Monfalcone, while “Explora II” will be built at the Sestri Ponente (Genoa) yard, with deliveries respectively in 2023 and 2024.

Attending the event, among others, were MSC Executive Chairman, Pierfrancesco Vago, Explora Journeys CEO, Michael Ungerer, and Fincantieri General Manager Merchant Ships Division, Luigi Matarazzo.

All four vessels will have a gross tonnage of approximately 64,000 tons and will feature the latest maritime and environmental technologies and solutions available. Each equipped with 461 guest suites, they will also showcase a highly-innovative design, also under the guests’ comfort and relaxation profile.

Including these four vessels, the partnership between Fincantieri and the cruises division of MSC Group counts 8 ships to-date: “MSC Seaside” and “MSC Seaview”, delivered in 2017 and 2018, and the 2 two enriched Seaside Evo ships “MSC Seashore”, delivered in July, and her sister ship, “MSC Seascape”, which will enter into service next year.
 

COIN CEREMONY FOR EXPLORA I TAKES PLACE AT FINCANTIERI SHIPYARD IN MONFALCONE

24 February 2022
  • Ship to enter service in May 2023 with sister ship EXPLORA II to follow in 2024, and two further luxury vessels in 2025 and 2026
  • The four luxury ships, with an overall investment of more than €2 billion, feature the latest environmental solutions and a highly-innovative design
  • Long-term partnership between MSC and Fincantieri numbers eight ships to-date, all built in Italy, for a total order worth almost €6 billion
Trieste, Italy and Geneva, Switzerland, February 24, 2022 – The coin ceremony of EXPLORA I, the first of four luxury cruise ships ordered by the Cruises Division of MSC Group for its new luxury brand Explora Journeys, today took place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.

The vessel, whose construction began in June 2021, will enter service in May 2023 and is the first of four ships on order worth more than €2 billion, each with a gross tonnage of approximately 64,000 tons and featuring the latest available technologies in terms of environment and sustainability.

Each ship will be equipped with 461 guest suites and showcase a highly-innovative design for the discerning guests’ comfort and relaxation who seek journeys to discover exclusive classic and exotic destinations.

The time-honoured coin ceremony when two newly minted coins are placed under the keel before it is laid as a sign of blessing and good fortune in the future was conducted by the new vessel’s godmothers, Alessandra Fontana, Chief Marketing Officer, Explora Journeys who represented the owners and and Ester Fugazzi, Head of General Services for Fincantieri who represented the ship builder.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruises Division of MSC Group said, "Italy is important for the entire maritime sector and our Cruise Divisions’ €6 billion expenditure with Fincantieri for four Explora Journeys luxury ships and four MSC Cruises’ vessels has made a significant economic impact of €27 billion to the country.
“The MSC group employs 15,000 people in Italy and will continue to invest in the nation to create further direct and indirect employment opportunities, which in turn leads to a positive contribution to the national economy.”


Giuseppe Bono, Fincantieri CEO, stated: “EXPLORA I will be a new-concept ship totally projected into the future, the utmost expression of the partnership between MSC and Fincantieri. Indeed, the partnership with this ship owner, is marked by constant technological and design evolution. In a few years this has led to three different cutting-edge prototypes and has emphasized the unique ability of our Group to create innovation”.

Construction of EXPLORA II started in October 2021 at Fincantieri’s Castellammare di Stabia (Naples) yard. The ship will be delivered in autumn 2024 at the Sestri Ponente (Genoa) shipyard with two further vessels delivered in 2025 and 2026.

The long-term partnership between MSC and Fincantieri to date numbers eight ships including the new vessels for Explora Journeys with all built in Italy for total orders worth almost €6 billion, making the Geneva, Switzerland-based owner one of the main customers for the Italian shipbuilder.

The first order placed by MSC was signed in 2015 for the construction of two “Seaside” class ships, MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview, which were delivered in 2017 and 2018 respectively and then represented the largest and most technologically advanced ships ever built in Italy.

This was followed by two “Seaside Evo” class ships, even larger and further enhanced from a technological and environmental point of view. MSC Seashore was delivered in July 2021 and her sister ship, MSC Seascape, will enter service in November 2022.
 

THE BUILDING OF THE EXPLORA JOURNEYS FLEET, THE NEW LUXURY BRAND BY MSC GROUP, PROCEEDS. TODAY IN FINCANTIERI MONFALCONE SHIPYARD FLOAT OUT FOR EXPLORA I

30 May 2022

  • Ship to enter service at the end of May 2023 with sister ship EXPLORA II to follow in summer 2024
  • The four ships reflects an overall investment of more than €2 billion and will feature the latest environmental solutions and a highly-innovative design
Trieste, Italy and Geneva, Switzerland, May 30, 2022 – The float out of EXPLORA I, the first out of four luxury cruise ships ordered by the Cruises Division of MSC Group for its new luxury brand Explora Journeys, has taken place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy today. The vessel, whose construction began in June 2021, will enter service at the end of May 2023. At the same time, the construction of EXPLORA II, the second ship of the new brand, is proceeding with delivery expected in summer 2024.

The float-out ceremony was attended, among others, by Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of the Cruise Division of MSC Group, and by Fincantieri Chairman, Claudio Graziano, and Fincantieri CEO, Pierroberto Folgiero.

The construction of the innovative Explora Journeys fleet, commissioned to Fincantieri by the MSC Group in 2018, continues at a fast pace thanks to a total order worth more than €2 billion for four units. The ships will have gross tonnage of approximately 64,000 tons, featuring the latest available technologies in terms of environment and sustainability.
 

MSC AND FINCANTIERI ANNOUNCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF TWO NEXT GENERATION EXPLORA JOURNEYS HYDROGEN-POWERED CRUISE SHIPS WITH INDUSTRY FIRST FEATURES

  • New generation technologies on board EXPLORA V and VI will tackle methane slip issue effectively and allow for zero emissions operations while in port
  • Explora Journeys fleet to now comprise six ships: EXPLORA III, IV, V and VI will all be LNG-powered, with the latter two also being hydrogen-powered
Geneva, Switzerland/Trieste, Italy – July 6, 2022 – Explora Journeys, the luxury travel brand of the Cruise Division of MSC Group, and Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups, today announced the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the construction of an additional two hydrogen-powered luxury cruise ships to take the total fleet number from four to six vessels.

EXPLORA V and VI will feature a new generation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines that will tackle the issue of methane slip and will also be equipped with industry first environmental technologies and solutions, including a containment system for liquid hydrogen that will enable them to use this promising low-carbon fuel. Hydrogen fuel will power a six-megawatt fuel cell to produce emissions-free power for the hotel operation and allow the vessels to run on ‘zero emissions’ in port, with the engines turned off.

The two newbuilds will come into service in 2027 and 2028, respectively.

Explora Journeys also said that the previously announced vessels EXPLORA III and IV will now be powered by LNG. The two ships will be enlarged by 19 metres to enable the installation of a new generation system based on LNG and hydrogen. This has provided an opportunity to enhance the mix of suites with an increased number of spacious and luxurious Ocean Residences and larger public spaces, which offer a true sense of being at home at sea.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of the Cruise Division of MSC Group, said, “Explora Journeys is building ships for tomorrow, utilising today’s latest technologies and being ready to adapt to alternative energy solutions as they become available. The announcement today marks another significant step forward in our goal as a business to reach net zero emissions by 2050 across all our cruise operation for the two brands and a further proof of our commitment to invest in the most advanced marine environmental technologies available to develop sustainable solutions for the future. This transition to zero emissions operations for the maritime industry is the biggest challenge that we will ever face, and this will only be achieved by everyone playing their part – by investing in research and development and through significant investment both by companies but also governments.”

LNG is currently the cleanest marine fuel currently available at scale and it virtually eliminates local air pollutant emissions like sulphur oxides (99 per cent), nitrogen oxides (85 per cent) and particles (98 per cent). In terms of emissions with a global impact, LNG plays a significant role in climate change mitigation with the engines having the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 25 per cent compared to standard marine fuels. In addition, with the increasing availability of bio and synthetic forms of LNG in the future, this energy source will provide a pathway toward eventual decarbonised operations.

The two additional ships covered under today’s MOA will bring Explora Journeys’ investment in its fleet to €3.5 billion. This includes an additional €120 million each for fitting EXPLORA III and IV with LNG engines, a change that required a temporary halt of work due to the significant redesign of the ships, which will now be delivered in 2026 and 2027.

Michael Ungerer, Chief Executive Officer, Explora Journeys, added, “These bold moves to amend our construction plans, make significant additional investment in current orders and confirm orders for two more vessels with new technology despite the economic environment are something only a family company can do. This also demonstrates unequivocally our absolute commitment to operate ships that will appeal and attract the next and future generations of luxury travellers. Sustainability is the new craftmanship and we’re honoured to take a pioneering position within the industry and the wider travel sector”.

Pierroberto Folgiero, Chief Executive Officer of Fincantieri, commented: “This is the very first major agreement for new construction after the pandemic emergency and testifies not only to the further growth of our long-standing partnership with MSC, which we thank, but also the confidence of both groups in the future of the cruise industry. These ships will allow us to implement cutting-edge technologies aimed at significantly improving environmental performance, laying the foundations for further developments”.

Folgiero concluded: “We are convinced that sustainability is a key factor to ensure our growth in the medium and long term. We will continue to act with determination to be forerunners in a sector that has always seen us hold leadership positions”.

All six ships in Explora Journeys’ fleet will be equipped with the latest environmental and marine technologies and will also feature the latest selective catalytic reduction technology to enable a reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions by 90 per cent, be equipped with shore power plug-in connectivity to reduce emissions in port and fitted with underwater noise management systems to help protect marine life. All six vessels will also have a comprehensive range of onboard energy efficient equipment to optimise engine use to further reduce emissions.”

940420p516EDNmainimg-Explora-Journeys-new-hydrogen-ships_940x443.jpg
Illustrasjon: via verftet
 
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MSC Group makes major investment in luxury travel market and launches Explora I - first luxury ship from Explora Journeys
  • EXPLORA I delivered by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri with an investment of 500 million euros by MSC Group
  • Order for four luxury ships worth 2.3 billion euros for Explora Journeys’ fleet
Monfalcone, Italy, 20 July 2023 –The Cruise Division of MSC Group today celebrated a significant milestone in its continuous growth with the delivery of EXPLORA I to mark the official launch of Explora Journeys, the new luxury travel brand. The investment of the new ship amounted to over 500 million euros.

This is the first of four luxury ships to be built by Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups based in Italy, in an investment plan worth 2.3 billion euros.

The traditional maritime event was attended by Gianluigi Aponte - Founder and Chairman of the MSC Group, Pierfrancesco Vago - Executive Chairman of the MSC Group's Cruise Division, the godmother of the ship Zoe Africa Vago, for Fincantieri Pierroberto Folgiero, Chief Executive Officer as well as representatives of MSC's construction team together with managers and workers from the shipyard.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division, MSC Group, said, “Today is a historic day, and represents a decisive step in our growth path, because it marks the entry of the MSC Group into the luxury travel sector. This segment has strong growth prospects, in which we strongly believe and whose standards we aim to redefine, focusing as always on excellence and luxury. EXPLORA I will be of the most beautiful and iconic ambassadors of "Made in Italy" at sea, a testament to Italian craftsmanship all over the world.

“The four Explora Journeys ships will see an investment of 2.3 billion euros, capable of generating an impact on the Italian economy of more than 10 billion euros, thus providing a significant contribution to the country's development prospects. In terms of employment the construction of each single ship requires over seven million working-hours and the average employment is of 2,500 people for two-three years.”


Pierroberto Folgiero, Chief Executive Officer, Fincantieri
, added, “The Explora class clearly and distinctively marks the development Fincantieri is heading towards. Indeed, entering the luxury cruise market, Explora I represents a project meant to climb several steps in approaching the ship of the future. From the most modern selective catalytic reduction solutions and high-efficiency systems, we will progress to liquefied natural gas, and to hydrogen in the units to follow. This path shows the Group's evolution from manufacturer to enabler of the energy transition in shipbuilding”.

EXPLORA I will depart on 1 August for her maiden voyage from Copenhagen in Denmark. The luxury ship will spend several weeks in Northern Europe to offer a range of different itineraries and will then cross the Atlantic Sea and spend the winter in North America and the Caribbean Sea before returning to Europe in Summer 2024 for voyages in the Mediterranean Sea.

EXPLORA II is currently being built at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Genoa Sestri Ponente, Italy and will come into service in August 2024. EXPLORA III will become the first of two LNG-powered vessels to join the Explora Journeys’ fleet with the ship due to be delivered in 2026 and EXPLORA IV in 2027.

All of the Explora Journeys vessels will be equipped with the latest environmental and marine technologies, including selective catalytic reduction technology, shore power plug-in connectivity, underwater noise management systems to help protect marine life, and a comprehensive range of onboard energy efficient equipment to optimise engine use to further reduce emissions.

Kilde: Pressmelding Fincantieri​
 

MSC AND FINCANTIERI ANNOUNCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF TWO NEXT GENERATION EXPLORA JOURNEYS HYDROGEN-POWERED CRUISE SHIPS WITH INDUSTRY FIRST FEATURES

The two newbuilds will come into service in 2027 and 2028, respectively.

Femte og sjette skipa i denne serien blir bygg nr. 6323 og 6324 ved Fincatieri
 
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