Carnival Corp. said its joint venture in China with China
State Shipbuilding Corp. (CSSC) has signed a firm order for two cruise ships.
The vessels will be built by a China-based shipbuilding
joint venture between CSSC, the largest shipbuilder in China, and Italy-based Fincantieri.
The order is part of a strengthened memorandum of
understanding first announced in September 2016. It gives the venture an option
for four more ships.
Carnival said it plans to use the ships as part of its first
multi-ship cruise brand for Chinese and Asian passengers.
Under the agreement, Carnival Corp. will provide onsite
supervision and support during ship construction. The first of these ships is
expected for delivery in 2023.
The joint venture between Carnival and CSSC was announced in
2015, with Carnival as a minority partner. Carnival is slated to operate the
ships.
The venture plans to launch a cruise brand in China using
ships that are purchased from Carnival Corp.'s existing fleet. The joint venture
would then add new China-built cruise ships starting in 2023 to further
accelerate growth in the Chinese cruise market, Carnival said.
The expanded memorandum of understanding was formalized
during a signing ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing,
attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Italian President Sergio
Mattarella.