The first aircraft in MSC’s new air cargo business has been delivered.
Atlas Air, a subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings (NASDAQ: AAWW), announced the delivery of the Boeing 777-200 freighter. It is the first of four aircraft Atlas Air will operate on behalf of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, the world’s largest container shipping line.
“We are looking forward to this partnership with MSC, the world’s largest shipping company, as they enter into air cargo,” said John Dietrich, President and Chief Executive Officer, of Atlas Air Worldwide. “We are pleased that all four of our newly acquired 777-200Fs are placed on a long-term basis with MSC, providing them with the dedicated capacity to support their growth and expansion.”
Atlas Air and MSC entered into a long-term aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance agreement in September.
MSC enters the air cargo industry with the longest-range twin-engine freighter in the world, capable of flying 4,880 nautical miles.
“We are delighted to see the first of our MSC-branded aircraft take to the skies and we are looking forward to starting serving the market with our new Air Cargo solution,” said Jannie Davel, Senior Vice President of Air Cargo at MSC. “We believe that MSC Air Cargo is developing from a solid foundation thanks to the reliable ongoing support of our operating partner Atlas.”
MSC joins French rival CMA CGM and Danish conglomerate A.P. Moller-Maersk, MSC’s partner in the 2M alliance, in establishing an in-house air-freight fleet.
MSC previously lost a bid to acquire a controlling stake in ITA Airways, Italy’s flagship air carrier.
New York City will serve as the backdrop for an inaugural event when MSC Cruises’ newest U.S. flagship – MSC Seascape – comes into service later this year.
MSC has announced plans to hold the ship’s naming ceremony at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, with Academy Award-Winning star Sophia Loren carrying out her role as godmother to her 18th MSC Cruises ship.
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division of MSC Group, commented: “We are particularly pleased to celebrate this momentous milestone in New York City, which holds a special place in our Group’s history, having been served by ships from the MSC Group’s cargo division since 1985. Today, as MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company leads the container shipping sector globally as well as across North America, MSC Cruises has grown to become a major player in the U.S. cruise industry. Having developed a meaningful operation out of South Florida, we are now preparing a major strategic expansion across the East Coast that will see us launch year-round cruises out of New York in 2023. We could not think of a better way of celebrating such a significant milestone than holding MSC Seascape’s – our latest flagship – naming ceremony in this wonderful city that has been an important hub for MSC Group for over three decades.”
MSC Seascape will be the cruise line’s first ship to be named in New York, reflecting MSC Cruises’ commitment to the North American cruise market and its upcoming expansion to New York and the Northeast with year-round cruises available from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal beginning in April of 2023, according to a press release.
Rubén Rodríguez, President, MSC Cruises USA, said: “We are very excited to showcase to New Yorkers our European heritage and the unique international character we bring to cruising, matching the city’s multi-cultural flair. Bringing MSC Seascape to New York City for her Naming Ceremony is a fantastic opportunity for us to host a very special gala event onboard for our valued travel advisors and partners, introducing them to our newest ship. Come next year, New York City will be our third US homeport, alongside Miami and Orlando/Port Canaveral. This is the latest example of the significant investment we’re making in the U.S. and the Caribbean, which includes building the largest cruise terminal in North America at PortMiami and offering Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve as both a stunning tropical destination and a reflection of our commitment to the environment.”
The MSC Seascape will sail to Miami immediately following the ceremony for an inaugural season in the Caribbean.
The ship will be the second Seaside EVO class ship to enter MSC Cruises’ fleet and the fourth vessel in the line’s Seaside class.
The MSC Seascape will offer two different seven-night itineraries from PortMiami including an Eastern Caribbean cruise calling at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and Nassau in The Bahamas, San Juan in Puerto Rico, and Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic and a Western Caribbean sailing calling at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Cozumel in Mexico, George Town in the Cayman Islands and Ocho Rios in Jamaica.
MSC Cruises has announced that it obtained the final approval by the Port of Barcelona’s Board of Directors to build and operate an exclusive cruise terminal. This multi-year concession will see the construction of an innovative terminal of 11,670 square meters that MSC Cruises will operate and manage for a 31-year period.
The project is estimated to represent a 33-million-euro investment by MSC Cruises. With construction work set to start shortly, the new terminal is expected to enter service in 2024.
“We are particularly pleased with the award of this multi-year new terminal concession. Barcelona is not only an important homeport for the cruises division, but also for the entire group and its shipping business. As such, the new terminal is further proof of MSC Group’s longstanding commitment to the city of Barcelona and the entire Catalonia region,” said MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago.
For the project, MSC Cruises is partnering with the renowned Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill.
“I am also honoured that for this project we will able to partner with the impressive Ricardo Bofill and his firm. Together, we will build a state-of-the-art new terminal that is bound to become another landmark for the beautiful city of Barcelona,” Vago said.
According to him, the new terminal will allow MSC to operate “expanded homeport operations, resulting in added direct and indirect economic benefit for the city and the overall region.”
“This will come from higher spent locally by our international guests either flying into or out of Barcelona airport and likely to spend additional days in the city and its hotels together with their travelling parties. Homeport operations will also allow us to dedicate to Barcelona more of our new ships – including the LNG-powered MSC World Europa which is currently under construction and is shaping up to become one of the most environmentally friendly ships at sea when she comes into service,” noted Vago.
“Finally, the new terminal allows us to further demonstrate our commitment to environmental sustainability as it will feature both shore power facilities as well as LNG bunkering operations,” he concluded.
According to a press release, this project will allow MSC Cruises to “consolidate its presence in Barcelona,” which is one of the brand’s most important ports in the Western Med and to expand its homeporting operations out of the city.
This will result in added direct and indirect economic benefit for the city and region as more international guests will transit through Barcelona, likely spending additional days in the city either before or after their cruise, the cruise line wrote.
The new terminal will feature shore power facilities and be ready for LNG bunkering operations, allowing MSC Cruises to deploy more next-generation, environmentally-friendly ships in Barcelona, including the MSC World Europa. The World Europa is the brand’s first LNG-powered cruise ship, currently under construction and due to enter service in 2022.
Both cargo operator MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company and ferry operator GNV have a solid presence in the Port of Barcelona, the cruise line said.
“As such, the new terminal is a further proof of MSC Group’s longstanding commitment to Barcelona, Catalonia and the whole of Spain,” MSC stated.
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