Fincantieri Lays Keel for MSC Cruises’ Longest Ship

Italy’s shipbuilder Fincantieri held a keel laying ceremony for MSC Cruises’ latest vessel, the MSC Seashore, on September 19.

The milestone event took place at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, where MSC Cruises revealed details of the significantly transformed overall design and new features of the ship.

At 339 meters, the MSC Seashore will be the company’s longest ship when it enters service in June 2021. It is the first of two enriched “Seaside Evo” Class ships with the latest available environmental technology, extended public spaces, more cabins and the highest ratio of outdoor space per guest of any ship in the company’s fleet, the parties explained.

According to Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman, MSC Seashore represents “another proof of our long-standing commitment to preserve the environment in our ongoing journey to minimise and continuously reduce the impact of our operations.”

MSC Seashore will be fitted, amongst other, with a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system and a Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) system. The new build will also be fitted with shore-to-ship power which connects cruise ships while at berth to a port’s local power grid to reduce further the ship’s emissions.

Other effective environmental technologies deployed on MSC Seashore include an exhaust gas cleaning system (EGCS); waste management systems; ballast water treatment systems approved by the United States Coast Guard; systems for the prevention of oil discharges from machinery spaces and various energy-efficiency improvements – from heat recovery systems to LED lighting.

“It is a real challenge in terms of structural and managerial aspects, which powers the impressive workload for the shipyard and the local area. We therefore are very pleased for such a celebration which seals the fruitful partnership with MSC Cruises and we are confident that there will be other similar moments in the future,” Giuseppe Bono, Fincantieri CEO, noted.