Fincantieri to Construct New Liner for British Market
Cunard Line's parent company, Carnival Corporation, has signed a letter of intent with Italian shipyard Fincantieri for the construction of a new 1,968-passenger liner to serve the British market. line's much anticipated Queen Mary 2. year, to play a more significant role in the growing British cruise market. Panamax standards so it can be deployed on a variety of worldwide itineraries. passengers expected to sail in 2002. Pamela Conover, Cunard's president and chief operating officer. inclement weather. uniquely tower 10 decks high on both sides of the vessel. suites offering private balconies. Sterling. passengers in upper-level staterooms. and the ship also will employ the Azipod propulsion, which enhances operating efficiencies and environmental benefits. 668-passenger Caronia.
Fincantieri To Build Ferry For SNCM
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has signed a contract with France's SNCM to build a 44,500 gt ferry to be used mainly on the Marseilles to North Africa routes. The new vessel will be 574 ft. (175 m) long and able to transport 2,200 passengers in 470 cabins and 320 pullman seats. The ferry will also accommodate 700 cars, a Fincantieri spokesperson said. No financial details were given, but industry sources said the contract was worth around $126 million. The ferry will be built in Fincantieri's Ancona yard and delivered in spring 2002. "This contract confirms the company's presence in the large ferry market sector, at present there are nine ferries in our orderbook," said Fincantieri Managing Director Pier Francesco Guarguaglini.
Fincantieri Awarded Carrier Contract; To Expand Facilities
It was reported that Italy's Defense Ministry placed a $757 million order for an aircraft carrier with Fincantieri SpA. The order for the 235-meter long vessel, the biggest warship built in Italy since the second world war, brings the order book at money-losing Fincantieri to 6 trillion lire. Construction will begin next June at La Spezia, in the region of Liguria, and the ship is likely to enter into service in 2007. The ship will reportedly be powered by four gas turbines built by Fiat SpA and General Electric Co. Separately, it was reported that Fincantieri Chief Executive Pier Francesco Guarguaglini said the company will invest 100 billion lire in the next two years to create a third shipbuilding yard in Genoa.
Fincantieri to Cut $330M Over Three Years
Fincantieri SpA will reportedly cut at least $334 million in costs - or between 15 and 20 percent of the total - over the next three years to return to profit. "By 2001, the company should be back in the black," Fincantieri Chief Executive Pier Francesco Guarguaglini told labor unions, according to press reports. The plan, while boosting production and efficiency, would not include layoffs. Fincantieri is expected to post a loss of more than $160 million this year and lose money next year as well. Guarguaglini was appointed chief executive in June.
