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Fincantieri delivers MSC Seascape

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170,400gt MSC Seascape is the largest cruise ship to be built in Italy and 21st to join the MSC Cruises fleet
Fincantieri delivered MSC Seascape Wednesday in Monfalcone in the presence of Italy’s deputy prime minister and minister of sustainable infrastructure and mobility, Matteo Salvini.

For MSC, Gianluigi Aponte, founder and chairman of the MSC Group; Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of the MSC Group’s Cruise Division; and the ship’s handover godmother Zoe Africa Vago were present as was Fincantieri Chairman Claudio Graziano, CEO Pierroberto Folgiero and Luigi Matarazzo, general manager, merchant ships division.

The 170,400gt vessel, the largest cruise ship to be built in Italy, is the 21st to join the MSC Cruises fleet and MSC Seascape is the fourth to have been built by Fincantieri as part of a €7bn investment package for ten ships. 

The shipyard will also build six new vessels for MSC’s luxury travel brand, Explora Journeys.

Paying tribute to ancient seafaring traditions, Monfalcone shipyard director Cristiano Bazzara, presented MSC Seascape’s captain, Roberto Leotta, with an ampoule containing the first water that touched the hull when the ship was floated out a year ago.

Tribute to Giuseppe Bono

A poignant and moving tribute of remembrance was paid  to the Giuseppe Bono who, for 20 years until May 2022, was CEO of Fincantieri. He died earlier this month.

Vago announced a plaque named in Bono’s honour will be placed on the ship.

‘MSC Seascape has required an investment of over €1b which has generated an impact on the Italian economy of almost €5b. Our Group – between cruises, cargo, ferries, terminals and other activities – employs around 15,000 direct employees in Italy, generating an employment impact of a further 40,000 people,’  underlined Vago. 

MSC Seascape is the second Seaside EVO-class ship, an evolution of the Seaside class, and joins  MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview, which launched in 2017 and 2018, respectively, and sister ship MSC Seashore, delivered in 2021.

Commenting on the on time delivery of MSC Seascape Fincantieri’s Folgiero said, ‘for us this is a result of absolute importance, achieved in full compliance with the deadlines despite the unprecedented difficulties that have characterized the global context in recent years. Finally, in terms of technological innovation, Seascape stands at the forefront in terms of environmental sustainability.’

MSC Seascape’s technical roll call includes a hybrid exhaust gas cleaning system and selective catalytic reduction system, achieving a 98% reduction of sulphur oxide emissions and reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by 90%. The wastewater treatment system is designed in line with IMO’s MEPC 227(64) Resolution.

The vessel has been designated Green Plus, the highest-level additional notation in environmental sustainability issued by the RINA certification body.

Naming ceremony in New York

Sporting 2,270 cabins, MSC Seascape will begin her inaugural season in the US, where she will be christened by Sophia Loren on December 7 in New York. She will then move to the Caribbean, offering two different weekly itineraries departing from PortMiami.

The ship offers 13,000sq mtr of outdoor space.