The world's third-largest cruise line, MSC Cruises, is accelerating its new round of fleet renewal and expansion. For the first time, the company has partnered with German shipyard Meyer Werft to secure a blockbuster order worth a total of 83 billion yuan, injecting strong confidence and certainty into this century-old German shipyard, which is currently in a critical phase of restructuring. Up to 6 ships! MSC Cruises collaborates with Meyer Werft for the first time.
On December 15, MSC Cruises announced an order with German shipyard Meyer Werft for the construction of 4+2 new-generation New Frontier-class luxury cruise ships. This series of ships has a gross tonnage of approximately 180,000 tons and a maximum passenger capacity of 5,400. The delivery is planned to start in 2030, with one ship delivered annually. If the optional orders are confirmed, they will be delivered in 2034 and 2035. This marks MSC Cruises' first collaboration with Meyer Werft for cruise ship construction.
German Minister of Economy Katherina Reiche noted that MSC Cruises' order is valued at up to 10 billion euros (approximately 82.963 billion yuan) and is expected to ensure that Meyer Werft's shipyard in Papenburg, northern Germany, near the Dutch border, maintains full capacity operation until 2035.
MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago stated: "Meyer Werft's outstanding track record, deep expertise, and proud history make it a true benchmark in European shipbuilding. Through this collaboration, we will create ships that redefine the cruise experience while continuing the masterful craftsmanship that has kept Germany at the forefront of maritime engineering. The New Frontier-class ships will enable us to design new and distinctive itineraries, deliver exceptional passenger experiences, and feature a new generation of environmentally friendly technologies, further advancing our commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050."
Meyer Werft CEO Bernd Eikens noted: "This new order marks a significant milestone in the 230-year history of our shipyard. We are delighted to welcome MSC Cruises as a new customer and strategic partner and are deeply honored by the trust they have placed in us. The long-term partnership established with MSC Cruises will ensure sustainable growth and stable employment for many years to come."
MSC Cruises' order will create and secure thousands of jobs in Germany, particularly in the state of Lower Saxony and the Papenburg region. Meyer Werft serves as a core local employer and supports an extensive network of suppliers. Currently, Meyer Werft directly employs over 3,200 people, and its operations indirectly sustain more than 20,000 additional jobs across the broader region.
It is understood that MSC Cruises, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is part of the MSC Group. As the world's third-largest cruise brand, MSC Cruises holds a leading position in Europe, South America, the Gulf region, and Southern Africa in terms of market share and capacity deployment. Historically, MSC Cruises has consistently built its luxury cruise ships at France's Chantiers de l'Atlantique. Earlier this year, MSC Cruises also placed an order for two "World"-class luxury cruise ships with Chantiers de l'Atlantique, bringing the total number of LNG dual-fuel "World"-class ships in its fleet to six.
A "Stabilizing Pill" During Critical Restructuring: A Century-Old Shipyard Embarks on a New Journey
This order from MSC Cruises is particularly crucial for Meyer Werft, which is undergoing restructuring. Previously, the shipyard faced severe financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, exacerbated by soaring material and labor costs. Additionally, some of Meyer Werft's newbuilding contracts lacked clauses allowing for price adjustments following cost increases.
In early last year, Meyer Werft, once on the brink of bankruptcy, initiated restructuring efforts. To rescue the shipyard, the German federal government and the state government of Lower Saxony agreed in September last year to each acquire a 40% stake in the shipyard, with a combined investment of approximately 400 million euros. They also provided credit support totaling 2.6 billion euros to help the shipyard complete all ongoing projects in its order book.
Meyer Werft Shipyard stands as one of the largest and most modern shipbuilding facilities in the world, boasting the planet's largest indoor dry dock. The first indoor dry dock was completed in 1987, measuring 370 meters in length, 101.5 meters in width, and 60 meters in height. It was later extended to 470 meters in 1990/1991. In 2004, a second colossal indoor dry dock was constructed, reaching 504 meters in length, 125 meters in width, and 75 meters in height. This infrastructure enables Meyer Werft to build up to three cruise ships annually.
As one of the world’s leading cruise shipbuilders, Meyer Werft has constructed numerous renowned vessels. In 2018, the shipyard delivered the "AIDAnova," a luxury cruise ship built for AIDA Cruises, part of the Carnival Group. This ship marked the world’s first pure LNG-powered luxury cruise liner and the largest ever built in Germany. Last year, Meyer Werft delivered the "Silver Nova," the first vessel in the Nova series for Silversea Cruises, a luxury brand under the Royal Caribbean Group. Dubbed the "most environmentally advanced cruise ship," the Silver Nova utilizes cutting-edge hybrid power technology to achieve zero emissions in port for the first time, representing a significant milestone in Royal Caribbean Group’s journey toward net-zero emissions.
Beyond its cruise shipbuilding operations, Meyer Werft is actively contributing to Germany’s transition to renewable energy. The shipyard is currently constructing large converter platforms near the Port of Rostock on the Baltic Sea. These platforms are designed to transmit electricity from offshore wind farms into the grid, playing a critical role in the country’s sustainable energy infrastructure.
German Minister of Economy Katherina Reiche emphasized: "We are very focused on ensuring the company is optimally repositioned and will continue to provide support until we believe the shipyard has sufficient stability and sustainable operational capability to successfully return to the market." She added that the German government is advancing related work with the goal of "reprivatizing" Meyer Werft.
It is reported that Meyer Werft was founded in 1795, initially building small wooden vessels and later transitioning to luxury cruise ships. To date, the shipyard has delivered over 700 vessels of various types, including ro-ro ships, passenger vessels, liquefied gas carriers, container ships, livestock carriers, river cruises, ocean-going cruise ships, and ocean research vessels.
