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40 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • FEBRUARY 2014 M SC Preziosa is a Fantasia class cruise ship owned and operated by MSC Cruises. It entered service in March 2013 as an enhanced version of its sister ships, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia, and is identical to MSC Divina, which was launched in 2012. Built at the STX shipyard in St. Nazaire, France, MSC Preziosa is the new fl ag- ship of MSC Cruises. The new ship gained immediate recognition famous courtesy of its christening by actress So- phia Loren, and was signifi cant as it sig- nifi ed that MSC Cruises is now the third largest cruise line in the world. From Humble Beginnings MSC Cruises had a humble start, cre- ated in the 1960s when Gianluigi Apon- te, owner of Mediterranean Shipping Company, acquired Starlauro, a one-ship cruise line whose fl eet consisted of the Achille Lauro, the infamous ship which had been hijacked by terrorists in 1986. This ship continued its troubled under the MSC fl ag, as in 1996 it caught fi re off the coast of Africa and ultimately sank. A setback for sure, but it did not hinder MSC’s growth, as the small cruise line had steadily increased its fl eet to include MSC Melody and MSC Rhapsody. The turn of the century was a breakthrough for MSC, which for the fi rst time com- missioned its own series of newbuilds. MSC Lirica, a 59,058-ton, 1,445-pas- senger vessel was the fi rst to emerge in April 2003, followed by the slightly larger MSC Opera, carrying 1,756 pas- sengers, in June 2004. The introduction of an even larger class of ships, ships with more amenities and an even higher ratio of private verandahs, began with MSC Musica. At 89,600 tons and ac- commodating 2,550 passengers, that fl agship of the class was launched in June 2006, its sister ships include MSC Orchestra, launched in of spring of 2007 and MSC Poesia launched in the spring of 2008. MSC Magnifi ca, the fourth ship in the Musica class, was launched in 2010. MSC’s biggest step forward to date has been the innovative new design for its Fantasia class of ships. MSC Fantasia (133,500 tons, 3,300 passengers), which sailed in Decem- ber 2008, was the fi rst of four Fantasia class vessels. Sister ship MSC Splen- dida (133,500 tons, 3,300 passengers) debuted in 2009, and MSC Divina (139,400 tons, 4,232 passengers) arrived in May 2012. The new MSC Flagship, MSC Prezi- osa (139,400 tons, 4,232 passengers) joined the fl eet in 2013. These two post- Panamax-sized vessels are based on a unique prototype that incorporates novel features, such as the ship-within-a-ship Yacht Club concept for suite holders, a pool with a dome for all-seasons swim- ming and an interactive center with a 4D theater and a Formula One simula- tor. Both the MSC Divina and the MSC Preziosa were built by STX Europe. Eco Ship Concept While it has taken some time for cruise lines (and for that matter, most of com- mercial shipping) to become environ- mentally conscious, the last 10 years have been transcendent with a signifi - cant, legislatively mandated decrease in emissions from the cruise industry along with an increase in the effi ciency of waste management systems, water treat- ment systems and energy monitoring and conservation systems. According to MSC Cruises’ owner Gianluigi Aponte, “We maintain high standards in disposing of waste materials CRUISE SHIPPING MSC PreziosaMSC Preziosa Ultimate in Cruise Ship Tech MSC Preziosa, new fl agship of MSC Cruises Photo Bernar d Beger -STX France MSC Cruises recent- ly added a new state- of-the-art liner, the MSC Preziosa, help- ing the Italian com- pany, truly a family business, attain the status of third larg- est cruise line in the world. By Claudio Paschoa MR #2 (32-41).indd 40 2/3/2014 10:27:33 AM
