MSC hails strength of UK market as first Seaside ship floated out

Posted on 28 November, 2016 by Spacejunkie2

Click the image for a unique video of how she is looking at the float out.

MSC Cruises has celebrated the ‘float out’ of its newest ship MSC Seaside as UK sales show ‘strength’.

The first of the cruise line’s new Seaside-class ships transferred from dry to wet dock at the Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard in Trieste, Italy, at the weekend.

Speaking at the event, UK managing director Antonio Paradiso said he was pleased with the strong response the operator was already seeing from the British market.

“This is another exciting milestone in our ambitious expansion plans as we see the second of our 11 next-generation ships entering the final stages of her construction.

“MSC Seaside has been specifically designed to provide our guests with a unique onboard experience in warmer regions.

“The UK market is very important and we are delighted with the strength of sales for MSC Seaside so far. The Caribbean continues to be an ever popular destination for UK holidaymakers.”

The ship, which will launch in December 2017, will homeport in Miami and complete year round sailing in the Caribbean.

At 323 metres long the ship will feature a maximum capacity of 5,179 guests on completion and is the first of two identical ships in the Seaside generation. Her sister ship MSC Seaview will enter service in spring 2018.

Undocking at Meyer Werft: Genting legend has left the building dock

Posted on 19 August, 2016 by Spacejunkie2

The latest cruise giant Meyer Werft, the “Genting Dream” has, II leave the covered building dock in Papenburg today in good weather. Meter by meter of the 335 meter long building for the Asian shipping Dream Cruises pushed ahead slowly.

Photo: Tobuas Bruns

PAPENBURG. Extensive testing of security systems, mechanical and plant trials and the completion of the interior had determined in the last few weeks the yard everyday. Due to current weather forecasts undocking was still postponed at short notice, but against 14:15 the time had finally come: the “Genting Dream” made her first meters. Supported by 4 tugs they slid stern first slowly toward sunlight. Hundreds of onlookers had gone on Friday afternoon to the Papenburg shipyard basin to ogle the first new construction. special, brightly colored hull paint particularly caught her eye.

The ship made finally fixed at the pier in the shipyard harbor where the installation of the chimney is carried out. On the outfitting of the Meyer Werft the final work and tests are carried out to the ship in the following days. Few days later, the first members of the crew then their cabins reflect on the ship and to become familiar with the ship. Already in mid-September will then begin their Emsüberführung direction Eemshaven, the “Genting Dream”. This is followed by sea trials and the final final outfitting in Bremerhaven before she is expected to be handed over on 12.10.2016 to the shipping company.

Photo: Tobuas Bruns

Even the next boat, the “Norwegian Joy ‘that is to follow in the spring of 2017, is making great progress. Already in the morning has a vast 100-meter long swimming part, that was before the “Genting Dream”, also left the building dock. One More was already longer on Werftpier. It had to take place and be hauled. Both sections will now be docked again.

Photo: Tobuas Bruns

The “Genting Dream”, or in Chinese also云顶梦, has to have a length of 335 meters, a width of 39.7 meters and a size of 151,300 GT. The client is the Asian shipping Dream Cruises (Hong Kong), which is part of the Genting Group. Also planned for autumn 2017 sistership called “World Dream”.

It will accommodate 3,360 passengers and 2,000 crew members, suggesting a ship for the premium segment. Of the 1,680 cabins, 1,278 are outside cabins. One thing is certain, according to Tan Sri Lim, CEO of the shipping company: “The ship is ready to hold many special features for the Chinese market.” So is the “Genting Dream” have two small deep-sea submarines, each four passengers up to 200 meters depth can convey. Much aboard similar to Breakaway-class of Norwegian Cruise Line, which also belong to Genting.

The Great ‘Norwegian Escape’

Posted on 17 August, 2015 by Spacejunkie2

Norwegian Escape reverse’s out from its hanger. Photo captured from TV stream from Myer Werft.

The largest cruise ship ever built by Norwegian Cruise Line, Norwegian Escape at 164,000 gross tons, was floated out at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany on Saturday 15/08/2015.

Project Breakaway Plus ships are two new passenger cruise ships to be constructed by Meyer Werft, for Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). Upon delivery, the two ships will become the biggest German-built passenger cruise ships in NCL’s fleet.

The order for the first Breakaway Plus vessel was placed in October 2012 and The second ship was ordered in July 2013. They are scheduled to be delivered in October 2015 and mid-2017 respectively.

In September 2013, the two ships were named Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Bliss, through an online campaign held in the US, Canada (excluding Quebec), Spain, Germany and the UK.

The contract value of the project is estimated to be €1.4bn ($1.92bn). NCL has arranged for 80% of export credit financing through KfW IPEX-Bank of Germany.

Breakaway Plus ship design

NCL’s new Breakaway Plus ships will be similar in design to its Breakaway Class vessels, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway.

The Breakaway Plus class vessels will feature interiors with innovative designs, plush staterooms and world-class amenities surpassing NCL’s existing fleet of cruise ships. The new vessels will be approximately 10% bigger than the Breakaway class ships.

Photo captured from TV stream from Myer Werft.

An additional deck will be built to incorporate any new innovations. The total length of each cruise liner will be approximately 325m, width 42m and gross tonnage 163,000t. Each ship will have 4,200 passenger berths.

Bolidt will collaborate with Swedish company Tillberg Design and SMC Design to design synthetic floors and deck surfaces for the two Breakaway Plus cruise ships.

Breakaway Plus propulsion and machinery

Each Breakaway Plus vessel will be fitted with five tier II-type V48/60CR engines to be supplied by MAN Diesel & Turbo. Two of the five engines will have a power capacity of 14V each and the remaining three will have a capacity of 12V each.

“The engines will have a total power capacity of 76,800kW and use common-rail injection system, which is suited for both heavy fuel oil and distillate fuels, and helps reduce fuel consumption and gas emissions.”

The engines will have a total power capacity of 76,800kW and use common-rail injection system, which is suited for both heavy fuel oil and distillate fuels, and helps reduce fuel consumption and gas emissions.

Four propulsion transformers of 11,250kVA each and four distribution transformers of 2,500kVA each will be fitted. The remaining 11 transformers, whose efficiency will be between 550kVA and 2,500kVA, will be fitted in different parts of the ship.

The Breakaway Plus vessels will be fitted with transformers, azipods, converters, switchgears and motors supplied by ABB. A total of 19 transformers will be manufactured at ABB’s transformer plant in Brilon, Germany. ABB’s Turgi plant in Switzerland will manufacture the converters, while its facilities in Finland and Italy will manufacture the azipods and switchgears.

Advanced scrubber technology

Advanced scrubber technology developed by Green Tech Marine (GTM) will be used by the Breakaway Plus ships. GTM will provide five scrubbers for each ship.

These GTM-R scrubbers are small and occupy little cabin space and other service areas. The scrubbers will enable the ships to comply with the 0.1% sulphur limit in emission control areas (ECA), which is set to take effect in 2015.