MSC CRUISES NAMES SECOND SEASIDE EVO SHIP AT COIN CEREMONY, ONE OF TWO VESSELS FINCANTIERI IS BUILDING TO SUPPORT THE LINE’S LONG-TERM GROWTH PLANS

MSC Cruises held a traditional coin ceremony today for its second Seaside EVO class ship at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy where the keel was laid.

The name of the new ship was revealed – MSC Seascape, paying homage to the beauty of the ocean and the stunning sea views guests will enjoy from the ship, thanks to its innovative design features.

Long-standing employees Monica Somma, Category Manager – Retail, MSC Cruises and Jolette Vincenzi – Production Supervisor from Fincantieri performed the traditional maritime ritual as godmothers. The pair placed two coins within the ship’s keel as a historical sign of blessing and good fortune for the construction of the ship and her future life at sea.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, MSC Cruises said, “The coins we lay today, to mark a key construction milestone of one of our ships, are an important symbol of our confidence in the cruise industry and the future of travel and tourism. As a family owned business, we can plan for the long term and make these commitments despite the challenging context we all face in the short term. When she joins our fleet, MSC Seascape will generate meaningful economic impact not only for the shipbuilding industry and its entire supply chain but for all the ports and destinations that she reaches, strengthening coastal tourism and supporting the vital economic recovery of local communities.”

MSC Seascape, like her sister ship MSC Seashore, is an evolution of the already ground-breaking Seaside class. The Seaside EVO ships are enhanced and extended with a variety of brand-new features, spaces and experiences for guests. MSC Seascape is designed to connect guests with the sea through the ship’s innovative design features, including 13,000 m2 (≈139,930 sq. ft.) of outdoor space. Scheduled to enter service in November 2022 the 169,400 GT ship will be able to accommodate 5,877 guests.

Mr. Vago added, “Furthermore, MSC Seascape represents our continued investment in this yard and region as well as our drive to advance with our long-term vision to achieve net zero-impact cruise operations. As every new vessel that we build, we are equipping MSC Seascape with some of the latest environmental technologies and solutions, including cutting edge emissions reduction and wastewater treatment systems. She will also break new ground in terms of guest entertainment and will be our first vessel to feature the dynamic and exciting RoboCoaster experience.”

Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, stated: “The coin ceremony is one of the oldest maritime traditions and also for the shipbuilder it always represents a special moment. With the welding, we address a good wish to future passengers and crew, who in this way symbolically board for the first time. I am sure that soon travelers will be able to sail the sea again as before, also on this splendid ship that is taking shape in our shipyard”.

The milestone ceremony was a private event attended in person by MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago and Finacantieri’s CEO Giuseppe Bono, plus members of the ship owner’s and shipyard’s management and project teams for MSC Seascape and was held in full compliance with the current health regulations.

MSC Seascape’s environmental credentials include selective catalytic reduction systems on each of the vessel’s four Wartsila 14V 46F engines to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 90 percent by converting the gas into harmless nitrogen and water and hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems to removes 98 percent of sulphur oxide from ship emissions.

The vessel will have advanced wastewater treatment systems with purification standards — that are higher than most wastewater treatment facilities on land — advanced waste management systems, ballast water treatment systems approved by the United States Coast Guard, the latest-technology systems for the prevention of oil discharges from machinery spaces, and various effective energy-efficiency improvements – from heat recovery systems to LED lighting.

The ship will also feature an underwater radiated noise management system to reduce the potential effects on marine mammals.

As with her sister ship, 65 percent of MSC Seascape’s public spaces have been re-imagined, enhancing the guest experience and offering guests different venues and locations to connect with the sea:

MSC Seascape is one of three vessels currently under construction as part of the Company’s continued long-term growth plans.