TRIESTE – MSC Cruises has announced a mega order at German shipbuilder Meyer Werft, a contract set to shape the future of Europe’s shipbuilding industry and the growth strategy of the cruise group.
The cruise line of the MSC Group has signed an agreement with Meyer Werft for the construction of four new cruise ships, with a further two on option. The overall value of the deal, not officially disclosed, is estimated at around €10 billion. The ships will be delivered on an annual basis starting in 2030 and will keep the Papenburg yard busy at least until 2035.
The new vessels will inaugurate a new class, named “New frontier”. They will have a gross tonnage of around 180,000 and a maximum capacity of 5,400 passengers. According to MSC Cruises, they are designed to open up new itineraries and to integrate the latest environmental technologies, in line with the group’s target of climate neutrality by 2050. «This new class will allow us to offer new and exclusive experiences to our guests, while further strengthening our environmental commitment», commented Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises. On the shipbuilder’s side, Meyer Werft CEO Bernd Eikens described it as a historic turning point, calling MSC Cruises a long-term strategic partner capable of ensuring employment stability and sustainable growth.
The order takes on even greater significance in light of the difficulties the German yard has faced in recent years. Meyer Werft was rescued just over a year ago through intervention by the German state, after a serious financial crisis linked to the collapse in demand during the pandemic, rising energy costs and the increase in raw material prices following the war in Ukraine. The federal government and the State of Lower Saxony each acquired 40% of the capital, investing a total of €400 million and guaranteeing a €2.6 billion credit line, alongside a restructuring plan through to 2028.
The official announcement of the agreement was made in Berlin, at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, in the presence of Minister Katherina Reiche and Lower Saxony Minister-President Olaf Lies, together with the top management of MSC Cruises and Meyer Werft. Reiche called the order a decisive step for the shipyard’s future, underscoring the industrial and employment value of the deal.
