We decided to create a European alternative

Good news was hiding another for Aker Yards France, the ex-Chantiers of the Atlantic of Saint-Nazaire. While the President of the Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy, just witness the attachment and support of the State company ("Les Echos" from September 8), now in the fold of the South Korean STX, the Italian shipowner MSC Crociere him confirms its commercial fidelity ordering two new cruise ships for EUR 1 billion. In an interview with the "Echos", its Director General, Pierfrancesco Vago explains the importance of this initiative. Despite a sluggish economy, the shipping company to shows more ambitious than ever: the number two European cruise will dethrone the Italian Costa, the subsidiary of us giant Carnival, indicates the leader.

You order two new ships to Aker Yards France for EUR 1 billion. That is what motivates such a project

It is an important step in our development. With these two boats, Derksen tons, 293 metres long with 1.275 cabins for a total of 3.013 passengers we confirm our position as leader in Europe. The "MSC Meraviglia', to be delivered in 2011, and the"MSC Favolosa", to be delivered in 2012, belong to the MSC Musica 6 units, Editor's note range, but they are more advanced in terms of environmental protection. Conscious of environmentally compatible tourism, MSC Crociere put on his very important with Aker Yards France relationship, the ex-Chantiers of the Atlantic of Saint-Nazaire, through which we today have the most modern fleet in the world. Thus, we are the first company to receive certification 6 Golden Pearls on the environment on the part of Bureau Veritas. Since the launch in 2004 of our development in the cruise plan, we have invested a total of 5.5 billion and all our new ships have been ordered to St. Nazaire, 10 units. In total, MSC Crociere represents 10,000 jobs up to the horizon of 2012. I also remember that we are the second client of Coface after China.

This command occurs in a context of slowdown, or even of economic recession. In do you have

Not at all. There is certainly an economic slowdown but people want to go on holiday. We are on a pace of growth of 35 over 2007, with about 800,000 passengers. For 2009, we are building on 1.2 million passengers. Much of the purchasing power, but the cruise is a product available to families: we encourage future parents with their children whose stay is free on board. We believe in its potential for development in Europe, particularly in France, where the product is not yet as well positioned.

How do you explain it

There is a misunderstanding of what is the cruise in France. It is seen as a product for the rich and the elderly. We still explained that the cruise is a service to the map, with opportunities for escape on board and multiple cities visited. Similarly, they do not know that we bring great importance to the restoration.

How to wrap your customers

It is 80 European, with variations depending on the season. Overall, the Italians represent 20 of traffic, 15, the French 5 Germans. But we also have many Brazilians, our company is very present in the Caribbean and South America.

What are your priorities

The France, the France, the France... 2008 in France, these are two vessels delivered to Saint-Nazaire, with the "MSC Poesia" in April and the "MSC Fantasia" in December, and obtaining, in a consortium with Costa and Louis Cruise, Editor's note, the first port concession private cruise, in Marseille. We will talk soon.

And in terms of development

We have an industrial plan which runs out in 2012. We will have then 14 boats representing more than 1.4 million of passenger transport capacity, or 11 times what it was in 2004. We will see then. But our goal is clear: we want to be number one in Europe. When we launched this plan, the sector was in a position of quasi-duopole with Costa, the Italian subsidiary of us giant Carnival, and Royal Caribbean, Editor's note. We decided to create a European alternative.