Company will provide electrical power systems for the newbuilds, which will debut in 2017 and 2018
By
Rebecca Gibson |
GE Marine has been chosen to lead the Italian consortium that will power MSC Cruises’ 'Seaside'-class cruise newbuilds, which will be delivered by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri in 2017 and 2018.
Like the 12 existing cruise vessels in MSC’s fleet, both newbuilds will be powered by GE’s electrical propulsion solution, which will include propulsion control systems, transformers, variable frequency drives core components, slow-speed propulsion motors and distribution transformers.
GE’s technology will eliminate the need for harmonic filters and reactive power compensation and can be installed with less cables. This will help to improve onboard safety and reduce fuel consumption, lowering MSC’s operating costs.
“We are extremely pleased that Fincantieri and MSC have once again chosen GE for the propulsion of their ships and we feel confident that with GE Power Conversion heading up the project we will see a successful outcome.” said Paul English, marine leader at GE Power Conversion. “As the popularity of cruise holidays continues to grow, we anticipate the demand for cruise ships to virtually double within a decade. We are excited to be part of this fast growing industry.”
Codenamed Seaside, each of MSC’s €700 million newbuilds will measure 323 metres in length, 41 metres in width and 70 metres in height, making them the largest cruise ships ever built by Fincantieri. They have been designed to dock in ‘any port around the world’ and will accommodate up to 5,300 passengers plus 1,413 crew members.
Offering 43,500 sqm of public areas, the Seaside prototypes will have innovative new features including a sea-level promenade that circumnavigates the sides of the ship with outdoor spaces, shops and restaurants. Seaside will also feature a theatre; a terraced balcony; panoramic lifts with sea views; and various systems that aim to reduce fuel consumption by 25%, as well as advanced safety systems.
The new prototypes will enable MSC to double its fleet by 2022 and reach a capacity of about 80,000 passengers a day.