MSC Cruises to implement next-generation air sanitisation system

MSC Welcomes their New Ship: MSC Seashore | Cruise1st Blog


MSC Cruises will be the first cruise line in the world to install a new advanced air sanitization system onboard its ships.

The new technology sanitization system, known as Safe Air, will improve the quality and cleanliness of onboard air for all passengers and crew.

The Safe Air system will be fitted on MSC Seashore, which is currently undergoing construction at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard.

The first in MSC Cruises’ Seaside Eco class of ships, MSC Seashore is due to be delivered in July 2021.

Safe Air is just the latest in a string of new health and safety measures being implemented by MSC Cruises, following the Covid-19 pandemic and the temporary suspension of cruising.The Safe Air system based on the technology of UV-C lamps which are type C ultraviolet rays applied in combination with the ship’s air conditioning system.

Airflow is radiated at the source with a short wavelength light that hits organic particles and prevents the circulation of air pollutants such as viruses, bacteria, and mould.

The system was developed by the Fincantieri’s designers and technicians and the virology laboratory of the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, a leading global research institute headquartered in Trieste, Italy.

While MSC Seashore isn’t due to launch until 2021, the cruise line is implementing a host of other strict health and safety procedures in the meantime.

Since partially resuming operations on 16 August on MSC Grandiosa, MSC has been following procedures like universal health screening before boarding, temperature checks, health questionnaires, Covid-19 antigen swab tests, and the wearing of face masks.

Other aspects of the protocol include enhanced sanitization and cleaning, a social bubble for shore excursions, testing of the crew, enhanced medical facilities, and daily health monitoring.

MSC holds out hope for UK passengers as the second ship sets sail

A second MSC Cruises ship has resumed service after Covid forced a pause in operations for much of the year.
MSC Magnifica follows MSC Grandiosa, which is on its ninth voyage, as the second ship to implement MSC Cruises’ comprehensive health and safety protocols.
MSC Magnifica departed Genoa on a 10-night Mediterranean cruise with calls at the ports of Livorno for visits to Florence and Pisa, Messina in Sicily, Piraeus for Athens, Katakolon for Olympia, Valletta in Malta, and Civitavecchia for Rome, before returning to Genoa. 
MSC Cruises UK managing director Antonio Paradiso said that the line was ready to welcome back British passengers when government guidance is relaxed.
He said: “MSC Cruises are ready to welcome British and Irish residents when the FCDO guidance changes.
“We are working closely with Clia and the relevant authorities to enable British and Irish guests to be welcome back on board our ships when the time is right.”

Miami Hoping to Ease Up Cruise Line Guarantees in Support Push

PortMiami is continuing to step up to help the cruise industry, as the officials hope to push through regulations to alleviate cruise lines of minimum passenger guarantees during their recovery phase.

Already waving fees for ships docking for technical and crew repatriation reasons, the port hopes to relieve cruise lines of their minimum annual passenger guarantees, according to a document submitted Miami’s Ports and Tourism Committee. 

This would come in exchange for the cruise lines to “maintain or increase their PortMiami market share relative to other U.S. ports in terms of passenger volumes and/or (2) to guarantee vessel calls; and (3) on a cruise line by cruise line basis, to meet any other additional conditions required by the County Mayor or County Mayor’s designee, if any, in his/her discretion (i.e., return of available weekend berthing rights, modifications to the scope of the County-funded components of construction projects or other County borne construction-related obligations, etc.).”

Cruise lines will be required to pay dockage and wharfage at their minimum contractual rates or those published in Port Tariff No. 010 (tariff rates for the Fiscal Year 2020-21 are $13.12 for wharfage and $0.405 per gross registered ton for dockage), in both cases subject to a 3% annual rate of escalation, according to the documents submitted.

“The passenger shortfall and surplus accounts shall not apply during the Recovery Period, nor shall any additional credits accrue during any portion of the Recovery Period; and Any parking-based incentives granted under their respective preferential berthing rights or terminal usage agreements will be waived throughout the Recovery Period.”

The port said it expects the Recovery Period to last up to 24 months.

Of note, the port explained the fiscal impact through the end of the Fiscal Year 2019-20 of the first phase of the Recovery Period is $55 million, consisting of forgone net revenues derived from cruise wharfage and dockage fees. This has been offset by $35 million in expense reductions resulting from the port.