Madrid, November 29, 2017 – MSC Cruises officially took delivery of its new flagship, MSC Seaside. The delivery ceremony was attended by Sergio Mattarella, President of the Italian Republic, and Graziano Delrio, Italy's Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, as well as other authorities and dignitaries.
On the occasion of the delivery ceremony of MSC Seaside, the company's second new ship to enter service in 2017, MSC Cruises and Fincantieri also signed an agreement for the construction of two Seaside EVO ships, a new evolution of the Seaside class prototype, representing a total investment of 1.8 billion euros.
MSC Cruises CEO Pierfrancesco Vago commented: “The entry into service of MSC Seaside marks another key milestone in the history and future of our company, but it also represents a crucial moment for the industry. In fact, it is the first ship of the fifth new prototype that we have put into service and presents a completely innovative product that sets a new standard of quality for the industry. The Seaside Class is designed so that passengers can enjoy the sun and sea like never before, while we continue to improve maritime technology specifically designed for passengers.”
Mr. Vago continued, “Now that 2017 is drawing to a close, we will look back on it as a year of unprecedented capacity growth. In the last six months, two of the industry’s most innovative ships have entered service, and we are now adding two Seaside EVO ships to our investment plan, which puts us in a better position to further expand our global impact. We expect to deliver at least one new ship every year until 2026, with six of them entering service between 2017 and 2020.”
Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, stated: “We are proud to have completed such a significant project: a ship, for a new client, the largest ever built in Italy. This demonstrates not only our ability to meet the needs of shipowners, but also the extraordinary operational capacity that Fincantieri has achieved. In fact, we would like to highlight that MSC Seaview, the sister ship of MSC Seaside, will be delivered in just six months from this same shipyard.” He added, “We believe we have built a truly innovative ship together with MSC Cruises. This marks a new leap forward in technological quality. Such a milestone has allowed us to secure the client's loyalty with another order for two new ships, which will [again] represent a true evolution.”
Following the new agreement between MSC Cruises and Fincantieri, the initial space reservation contract for a third Seaside-class ship – scheduled for delivery in 2021 – has been replaced with the construction of the first of two Seaside EVO ships. The second ship is expected to enter service in 2023.
The main specifications for the new Seaside EVO are as follows:
- Length/Beam: 339m/41m
- Gross tonnage: 169,380
- Maximum capacity (passengers + crew): 7,280
In addition to offering even more space, the Seaside EVO-class ships will feature larger dimensions, more cabins, an even bigger MSC Yacht Club – with a new deck and more spacious cabins – and a capacity for up to 5,646 passengers. At the same time, like the Seaside class, the MSC Seaside EVO ships will be equipped with the latest and most advanced environmental technology, including: a selective catalytic reduction system, an advanced emissions control system that significantly reduces nitrogen oxides (NOx) into harmless nitrogen (N2) and water; exhaust gas cleaning (EGC) technology, in compliance with the strictest regulations governing these gases in port and operating areas; state-of-the-art waste management and recycling systems; advanced water treatment systems, in compliance with regulatory standards and the strictest industry criteria; and an advanced energy and heat recovery system. The entire vessel will utilize state-of-the-art energy-saving devices, and all areas will feature LED lighting. The ships will be ultra-hydrodynamic, and thanks to optimized hull lines, propellers, and rudders, combined with a cutting-edge antifouling paint, wave resistance will be further reduced, resulting in greater fuel efficiency.
With the addition of these new ships, the company's investment plan, unprecedented in the sector, now includes 12 new ships to be built in 2026, as part of a general investment plan amounting to 10.5 billion euros.
During today's handover ceremony, which honors a centuries-old maritime tradition, Roberto Olivari, director of the Fincantieri shipyard, presented Pier Paolo Scala, Captain of MSC Seaside, with a vial containing the first water that touched the hull during its initial float-out earlier this year. Following the handover ceremony, MSC Seaside set sail for Trieste. From there, it will continue to Miami for its naming ceremony on December 21.
MSC Seaside is the first ship in the Seaside Class and a completely new prototype that pushes the boundaries of innovative shipbuilding and design. With 153,516 GRT and a capacity for 5,119 passengers, it is the second next-generation, newly built cruise ship in the MSC Cruises fleet, and the first to be delivered by Fincantieri.
MSC Seaside will have its home port in Miami and will begin its first voyage in the Caribbean, where it will make stops at several ports in the eastern and western Caribbean.
Following in the footsteps of MSC Seaside, its sister ship MSC Seaview will enter service in June 2018, beginning its summer season in the Mediterranean and based in Barcelona. At the delivery ceremony held today, Mr. Vago also announced that MSC Seaview will be christened in Civitavecchia, Italy, on June 2, 2018.
