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MSC Cruises announces €1.8bn order for pair of Seaside Evo ships

(Photos: Fincantieri)
From top left, clockwise - MSC Seaside's delivery bottle smash, the MSC Seaside Evo order is firmed, Fincantieri CEO Giuseppe Bono signs as MSC founder Gianluigi Aponte looks on, Italy President Sergio Mattarella, center, with Bono, right, at MSC Seaside ceremony
MSC Cruises inked a deal for two additional and bigger ships from Fincantieri called Seaside Evo (Evolution), for delivery in 2021 and 2023. The slot reservation to build a third Seaside-class ship for 2021 is being replaced by the first Evo ship.

MSC Cruises executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago announced the €1.8bn order during this morning's delivery of MSC Seaside at Fincantieri's Monfalcone yard.

Vago said the order would be signed in the afternoon in the presence of Graziano Delrio, Italy's minister of transport and infrastructure. The ships will be 169,380gt, stretch 339 meters and are 41 meters at the beam. By comparison, MSC Seaside is 154,000gt and 323 meters in length. Seaside Evo ships will have more cabins, an even larger Yacht Club—with an additional deck and larger cabins—and will carry up to 5,646 passengers, compared to MSC Seaside's 5,179.

This follows the €1.7bn deal for the construction of MSC Seaside and sister MSC Seaview, which is to be delivered in May 2018 and, Vago disclosed today, will be named in a ceremony on June 2, Italy's national day, at Civitavecchia.

Like the Seaside class, the Evo ships will have RINA classification. They'll be equipped with the latest advanced environmental technology, including a Selective Catalytic Reduction system, an advanced active emissions control technology system that breaks down nitrogen oxide into harmless nitrogen and water, exhaust gas cleaning technology (scrubbers), the latest waste management and recycling systems, advanced water treatment systems and an advanced energy and heat recovery system.

MSC Seaside was handed over to Vago and MSC Cruises founder Gianluigi Aponte in the presence of Italy President Sergio Mattarella, Delrio and other dignitaries. Aponte's granddaughter Asya cut the ribbon for the traditional bottle smash.

The vessel is the first built in Italy for MSC, which traditionally has ordered its ships in France.

MSC Seaside also will be the first in the fleet to go directly into US service, from PortMiami, where it will be named on Dec. 21.

Called the 'ship that follows the sun,' MSC Seaside has a head-turning look, particularly its aft superstructure, where twin towers rise above a large pool deck. Two glass elevators provide nonstop access between that Deck 7 area and the other main pool area on Deck 16.

The ship also sports a wide promenade lined with bars and restaurants on Deck 8, that's designed to put people closer to the sea.

MSC Cruises founder Gianluigi Aponte thanked all the players involved in MSC Seaside's delivery and the upcoming MSC Seaview, highlighting the efforts of Marco De Jorio of the De Jorio Design International for the elegant interiors.