Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri is forming a joint venture aimed at developing and supporting the growth of the Chinese cruise industry with state-run China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).
“This step allows Fincantieri to gain a leading role monitoring a strategic market with high potential,” the Italian group said.
The signing took place today in Shanghai between the ceo of Fincantieri, Giuseppe Bono, the president of CSSC, Wu Qiang, and the chairman of CSSC Cruise Technology Development and of the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding facility, Wang Qi.
Today’s agreement, which follows the historic ones signed with CSSC and Carnival Corporation in November 2014, provides that the joint venture will design and sell cruise ships exclusively intended and specifically customized for the Chinese and Asian market. These vessels will be built at one of CSSC’s shipyards, the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding facility, on the basis of a technological platform licensed to the joint venture and to the SWS shipyard by Fincantieri.
In order to ensure the success of the cooperation and to benefit from Fincantieri’s global experience and expertise in the development and construction of cruise ships, the agreement envisages that Fincantieri will also provide specialized consultancy services and supply certain key components of the vessels to the joint venture and to SWS.
