Tokyo: Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has announced it is in the hunt for large cruise ship orders, four years after it delivered its last cruise pair. MHI told reporters this week that it expects to snag a deal this year. It has opened negotiations with Carnival, though pricing remains an issue. Carnival is likely to order two more ships, as follow ons from the Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess that were delivered in 2004, late due to an enormous in dock fire. The new pair under discussion will be larger than the 116,000 grt pair delivered four years ago. The ships would be delivered in spring 2013 and early 2014.
MHI met with Carnival in Tokyo in May, following stalled discussions last year.
The Japanese yard's return to cruise shipbuilding comes as the Koreans eye the sector, which has been the last bastion of European yard dominance. Daewoo, Samsung and STX are all in discussions with cruise lines for deliveries from 2013 onwards. [19/6/08]
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