MSC Cruises reached an agreement for EUR 1.5 billion (USD 1.74 billion) financing for two of company's new Seaside EVO class ships.
The financing was provided via partnership with a syndicate of lenders comprising Unicredit, BNP Paribas, and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti SpA, with the Italian export credit agency SACE SIMEST fully backing the credit line (stabilising interest rate).
Featuring a 339-meter length, the new ships are being built by Italian Fincantieri. They are due to be delivered in May 2021 (Seashore) and February 2023 (tbn), respectively.
Through the addition of the new ships, MSC has plans in place for up to 10 new ships to be constructed by 2026.
As with the existing Seaside class cruise ships, the new ones will be equipped with state-of-the-art environmental technology, that ranges from recycling and waste management systems to the latest generation of energy-saving devices.