Fincantieri: five next-generation ships for Carnival

FINCANTIERI S.p.A. has signed a historic strategic memorandum of agreement with Carnival Corporation & plc for five next-generation cruise ships, to be built over the period 2019-2022. The agreement between the two companies also includes options for additional ship builds in the coming
years. The agreement is subject to several conditions, including satisfactory shipowner financing.
This fresh momentum for the partnership between Fincantieri and Carnival Corporation, announcing a program of this magnitude for the first time ever, is of the greatest strategic importance not only for the shipbuilding industry but for the entire domestic economy. In fact, the agreement highlights a long-term program by US-based Carnival Corporation, which has invested through its partnership with Fincantieri over USD 25 billion in Italy, making it one of the country's largest foreign investors. In fact, Fincantieri has built 59 ships for Carnival Corporation since 1990, with another seven ships for the company currently in the Fincantieri orderbook.

Technologically, the new agreement is a turning point for this market, with Carnival Corporation’s highly innovative design of the new-build ships marking the introduction of next-generation ships into the company’s fleet, each of which will reflect the distinctive characteristics of the group's different brands. With 25 years of experience in this sector, Fincantieri will oversee concept development up to the definition of final designs, from which the most efficient and advanced ships in the world will take form in the Monfalcone and Marghera shipyards. The new ships will operate in Carnival Corporation’s established markets in North America and Europe, as well as in newer ones, such as China.

Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, said: “This program, which is by far one of the most important ones for Italian industry, makes us proud of the work done over all these years, which has helped make Fincantieri a global byword for excellence. These 5 ships, combined with the 16 others currently in our cruise orderbook, could bring the total to 21, assuring us solid growth and a long-term strategic perspective. However, in order to continue to stand out successfully from the competition, we must further enhance our in-house process and product competencies”. Bono ended by saying: “We therefore expect everyone to operate with their best effort, as it is the only way to defend the leadership positions acquired so far”.

The agreement between Fincantieri and Carnival Corporation, the largest cruise company in the world with a fleet of 101 ships and 9 new ships scheduled to be delivered between 2015 and 2018, further confirms this successful relationship lasting more than 20 years.