Two passenger liners ordered

Renaissance Cruise of the United States has ordered two 650-passenger liners from Chantiers de l'Atlantique, the French shipyard's owner, GEC-Alsthom, says.

The ships, each with 350 cabins, will be used for Mediterranean cruises after delivery in June 1998 and February 1999 respectively.

The CFDT trade union said the order was worth US$500 million and represented 1.6 million hours per ship for the yard.

It said talks were also under way on a 1,400-cabin liner for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, a ferry for Tunisia, up to six methane carriers for the Petronas company and a fisheries protection vessel for Morocco.