Rumor circulating around the internets has it that MSC has completed a deal to acquire the partially built Phoenicia. The ship was originally ordered for the state run National Company for Maritime Transport of Libya. But given recent civil war and the toppling of power in the North African country, their maritime infrastructure took a back seat. The country defaulted on their payments to STX France, and thusly, STX cancelled the contract.
I first speculated that MSC will purchase the vessel in September. And now it looks like that’s coming true.