Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has completed two shipbuilding contracts with Carnival Corporation & plc, for the construction of two large-sized cruise ships for Carnival's AIDA Cruises brand.
Delivery of the two ships is scheduled for spring 2015 and spring 2016 from MHI's shipyard in Nagasaki. The shipbuilding contracts are subject to financing. The two 125,000 gross tonnage (G/T), 3,250 passenger ships will be the largest ever constructed for AIDA Cruises. The event marks the second new shipbuilding order for MHI from the Carnival group and the third and fourth cruise ships built by MHI for the group. Earlier, MHI built two 116,000 G/T ships for Princess Cruises: the Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess, both delivered in 2004.
Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest cruise vacation group in the world, with a portfolio of 10 cruise brands operating in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia, including Costa Cruises, Princess Cruises and AIDA Cruises. Altogether the group currently operates 101 ships, with 10 new ships scheduled for delivery between 2012 and 2016. Going forward MHI will continue to combine its accumulated comprehensive capabilities and advanced technologies in shipbuilding to attract further new orders for large cruise ships.