Triple celebration for Explora Journeys as Explora II is delivered
All vessels are built in Italy by Fincantieri, with a total MSC investment exceeding 3.5 billion euros, of which around 500 million euros was allocated for EXPLORA II.
The Cruise Division of the MSC Group and Fincantieri has celebrated three significant events in Genoa related to the Explora Journeys fleet, the luxury lifestyle brand recently launched by the MSC Group: the delivery of EXPLORA II, the coin ceremony for EXPLORA III, and the steel cutting for EXPLORA IV.
Edoardo Rixi, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, said:
«Explora Journeys ships represent the ultimate expression of naval engineering and design. Fincantieri's contribution was fundamental in the realisation of this innovative ships, which meet the highest expectations of quality and reliability, further consolidating Italy's position among the global leaders in the shipbuilding industry».
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of the MSC Group's Cruise Division, commented:
"These vessels represent a combination of innovation and sustainability and are part of an important expansion plan for our new European luxury brand. They also strengthen our long-term partnership with Fincantieri, which began 10 years ago and currently includes the delivery of four more ships by 2028, in addition to the six already delivered to date. The construction of the Explora Journeys ships plays a crucial role both locally, boosting the shipbuilding sector and the economy of Genoa and Liguria, and nationally, ensuring significant economic and employment benefits for the entire country."
Pierroberto Folgiero, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Fincantieri, said:
«The partnership with MSC, consolidated through the construction of the iconic Explora Journeys ships, demonstrates Fincantieri's leadership in the luxury cruise segment. Together with the MSC Group, we continue to set new standards of excellence and sustainability for the global cruise industry by pioneering technologies that will drive the boundaries of innovation even further. This is the ‘Made in Italy of talent’, which we aim to bring into the future technologically, accelerating our efforts to modernize shipyards and enhance the domestic craftmanship in our Country by creating the high-skilled workforce of the future».
The event celebrated three key moments in maritime tradition and, above all, in the construction of the Explora Journeys fleet, which currently includes six ships, with the first delivered in July 2023. All vessels are built in Italy by Fincantieri, with a total MSC investment exceeding 3.5 billion euros, of which around 500 million euros was allocated for EXPLORA II. This investment has an economic impact of over 15 billion euros on the country, with significant downstream effects and the creation of thousands of jobs. The construction of each ship requires over seven million work hours and provides employment for an average of 2,500 people for two to three years.
