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Fincantieri Delivers Mein Schiff Flow in Monfalcone

Fincantieri and TUI Cruises celebrated the delivery of Mein Schiff Flow at the Monfalcone shipyard. The vessel is the second of two next-generation InTUItion-class cruise ships, designed for dual-fuel operation (liquefied natural gas and marine gas oil).

“With the delivery of Mein Schiff Flow, we celebrate a new milestone in our collaboration with TUI Cruises and reaffirm the strategic role of the Monfalcone shipyard as a center of excellence in global shipbuilding,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and managing director of Fincantieri.

“Here, innovation, sustainability and industrial expertise are transformed every day into productive capacity and international competitiveness. This achievement demonstrates the strength of an ecosystem that continues to evolve, investing in the technologies of the future and enhancing Italy’s industrial know-how,” added Folgiero.

“I would like to thank all those who, through their professionalism, passion and dedication, have helped make this important milestone possible.”

The delivery ceremony was attended by the Prefect of Gorizia, Ester Fedullo, the Mayor of Monfalcone, Luca Fasan, and the civil and military authorities of the region.

It was also attended by Folgiero, Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises, Biagio Mazzotta, chairman of Fincantieri, Luigi Matarazzo, general manager of Fincantieri’s Merchant Ships Division and Cristiano Bazzara, director of the Monfalcone shipyard.

Fincantieri said in a press release that the delivery of Mein Schiff Flow strengthens its partnership with TUI Cruises.

The relationship was reinforced by the contract signed last September for the construction of two additional InTUItion-class vessels, sister ships to Mein Schiff Relax and Mein Schiff Flow, scheduled for delivery in 2031 and 2032, respectively.

The delivery also reinforces Monfalcone’s central role in the construction of next-generation cruise ships and its position as the group’s main shipyard.

Designed to operate on LNG propulsion, Mein Schiff Flow is equipped with catalytic converters compliant with Euro 6 standards, a steam turbine that uses the residual heat from the diesel generators, and an electrical shore power connection.

According to Fincantieri, the features will enable virtually emission-free operations while the vessel is berthed in port, accounting for approximately 40 percent of its operational time.

The ship also features a waste treatment system that transforms organic materials into recyclable components via a thermal process.

MSC Virtuosa docked in Rotterdam, Photo credit Spacejunkie2 – Flickr

When the MSC Musica started sailing in early June, the entire MSC Cruises fleet was back in service. For the summer that means 11 ships in the Mediterranean, five ships in Northern Europe, two ships in the Caribbean and one ship in the Middle East, according to Gianni Onorato, president of MSC Cruises.

“We have all 19 ships operating and are looking forward to two more new ships coming in October and November, the Seascape and the World Europa,” he said.

The 205,700-ton, 5,400-passenger MSC World Europa will be the largest and also the greenest and most efficient ship in the fleet, with a dual-fuel powerplant able to operate on LNG, while also testing a fuel cell onboard for auxiliary power. The intention is to explore a potential hybrid propulsion solution for future implementation. The new ship will also be able to plug into shore power wherever that is available.

“The market is driven by capacity and demand,” Onorato continued. “But obviously the last two years have been different and difficult as we were not able to operate as we normally do. And then as we started to ramp up, there was omicron, then the war, and then the high inflation rate. But over the last couple of months, we have seen demand picking up as people have a strong need to go on cruises again. People want to go on holidays, and we are seeing strong booking trends.”

In terms of the other challenges the industry is facing, Onorato said: “As we started sailing again before anyone else, and because we spent less time in the layup, we were able to ensure continuity of employment, and we maintained our recruitment and training centres. The turnover rate may be a little higher than normal, but manageable.

“As for the supply chain, we share some of the same issues as others in the cruise industry but have an advantage as we are also in the logistics business.

“We have also maintained our organizations in China and Japan, and we are ready to resume service, which most likely will happen next year,” he added.

Operating in many markets, Onorato said that among the selling points differentiating MSC Cruises are its beautiful ships, which, he added, reflect the soul of the family-owned company and its commitment to quality and innovations, and most of all, its maritime heritage.

“The passion we put into building our ships is also a way of expressing how much we care about the sea. We are more and more a company that is focused on sustainability and a sustainable future,” he explained.

“Another feature that sets us apart, is that as a family-owned company we offer a different atmosphere onboard, a different ambience for our customers and crew alike.

“We are also the only true international company. As our Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago likes to say, we are local and global, or glocal.

“Wherever our ships are sailing, we also adapt our product to local tastes and preferences,” Onorato added. “I think we are the only company operating ships in Brazil for Brazilians, in Argentina for Argentinians and in South Africa for South Africans.

“Our ships in the Middle East also have a high ratio of local customers onboard, and in Northern Europe, most of our customers are from countries in that region. And in the Mediterranean, our main markets are Italy, France and Spain.

“Our cruises are always open to anyone. In the United States, for example, a large share of passengers is from outside the U.S. So, we offer a different experience; more sophisticated, more discovery, all in all a different experience than the other brands in that market.”

In the United States, MSC sails from Miami and Port Canaveral and will also have the Meraviglia year-round out of New York in April.

Meanwhile, the city will serve as the backdrop for the naming of the MSC Seascape in December. (She then sails to Miami where she will be deployed for a winter season in the Caribbean.)

And, there is more to come, Onorato promised.

Excerpt from Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine: Summer 2022