MSC Cruises Orders Two More at Fincantieri, Takes Delivery of MSC Seaside

MSC Cruises has formalized the order this afternoon with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of two Seaside Evo Class ships, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises, Pierfrancesco Vago, announced.

As informed, the ships will be completed in 2021 and 2023, respectively. The said ships will entail a further investment of EUR 1.8 billion, taking the company’s investment at Fincantieri to EUR 3.5 billion, Vago said.

“Fincantieri and MSC cruises have reached an understanding for the construction of two new cruise ships, evolutions of those of the Seaside class,” Fincantieri confirmed.

Seaside EVO ships will have greater dimensions, more cabins, and will be hosting up to 5,646 passengers.

The ships will be equipped with the latest advanced environmental technology, including a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system, an advanced active emissions control technology system, exhaust gas cleaning (EGC) technology to meet the strictest exhaust regulations in port and in operating areas; state-of-the-art waste management and recycling systems; advanced water treatment systems and, an advanced energy and heat recovery system, Fincantieri said.

The contract signing ceremony took place as part of the MSC Seaside’s delivery hosted by the shipyard today in Trieste.

“MSC Seaside coming into service marks another key milestone in the history and future of our company, but she also embodies a pivotal moment for the industry. In fact, she is the first ship of the fifth new prototype that we bring into service and introduces a wholly-innovative product that sets a new standard for the industry to follow,” Vago said.

“As we are nearing the end of 2017, we can look back on a year when we enjoyed unprecedented capacity growth. With two of the more innovative new ships in the industry having come into service in the past six months and now with the addition of two Seaside EVO ships to our investment plan, we are now even better positioned to further extend our global footprint. We are expecting the delivery of at least one new ship each year through 2026, with six to have come into service between 2017 and 2020. ”

MSC Seaside is the first of the two cruise vessels ordered by Switzerland’s MSC Cruises from Fincantieri.

With a gross tonnage of 154,000 tons, the ship is 323 meters long and 41 meters wide. It will be able to carry 5,179 passengers and 1,413 crewmembers. MSC Seaside is the largest ship so far built in Italy, according to Fincantieri.

Its sister ship, MSC Seaview, is slated for delivery in June 2018, according to data provided by VesselsValue.

With the addition of these new ships, the company’s already investment plan will now account for 12 new ships to be built by 2026, for an overall investment of EUR 10.5 billion.

World Maritime News Staff; Image Courtesy: MSC Cruises, Fincantieri