February 13, 2019
- MSC Seaside EVO Are the Latest Two Mega Cruise Ships Added to MSC Cruises’ Seaside Class
- GE Will Provide the Electric Propulsion Technology and Lead the Consortium for Managing Electrical Power and Propulsion System
- The New Seaside EVO Ships Will Join the Existing MSC Cruises Fleet, 14 of Which Use Electrical Propulsion from GE
PARIS / GENEVA— 13 February 2019 —Following the delivery of the first and second ship – MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview – in the Seaside Class by the Fincantieri shipyard of Monfalcone, GE’s Marine Solutions (NYSE: GE) has once again been selected by MSC Cruises and Fincantieri to provide the marine electric propulsion technology for two new Seaside EVO ships, further driving the evolution of the Seaside Class next-generation mega cruise ships.
With a gross tonnage of 169,400 GT and a total guest capacity of 5,632, Seaside EVO ships will be the largest cruise ships ever built by the Fincantieri shipyard. The two ships will adopt a range of innovative design features and maritime technologies, among which GE will provide the electric propulsion system with his partners Imesa and Nidec that will bring operational efficiency and excellent maneuverability. GE will also lead the consortium – Imesa, Nidec, ASI – for managing the overall electrical power and propulsion system.
GE’s solution consists of propulsion controls along with transformers, variable frequency drive (VFD) technology, propulsion motors and distribution transformers. The propulsion system will see an increased power rating compared to those onboard the previous two vessels. GE’s electrical marine solution enables a smooth installation and cabling process. It also eliminates the need for harmonic filters.
“Sailing full steam ahead, the Seaside Class showcases our commitment to pushing the boundary of the future of cruising by unlocking the maximized potential that a cruise ship can achieve. MSC Seaside EVO ships will be longer and consequently more powerful than the previous two ships concerning power generation and propulsion motors. And we once again place our trust and count on GE, among other various partners, to deliver the outcome,” said Emilio La Scala, President & Managing Director, MSC Cruise Management UK.
“We have a long-term relationship with MSC Cruises. Our electrical propulsion systems have been installed on the existing fleet of 14 vessels, bringing reliable operations and smooth voyage experiences to millions of passengers worldwide,” said Ed Torres, GE’s Marine Solutions leader. “We are excited to partner with MSC Cruises once again and provide GE’s marine electric propulsion technology with increased power rating to propel the next generation of mega cruise ships.”
“As the demand for cruise holidays soars, fleets continue to grow. While stringent regulations and increased vessel sizes may pose new challenges, they bring with them a host of opportunities. New regulations are driving for more efficient operations with reduced carbon footprint, while larger sizes of vessels will set new benchmarks for technology reliability,” said Azeez Mohammed, president and CEO of GE’s Power Conversion business. “GE’s marine electric propulsion is an attractive commercial solution for the growing cruise industry, and we are delighted to partner with a major cruise line and grow the industry with reliable and sustainable technology innovations.”
About GE
GE (NYSE:GE) drives the world forward by tackling its biggest challenges: Energy, health, transportation—the essentials of modern life. By combining world-class engineering with software and analytics, GE helps the world work more efficiently, reliably, and safely. For more than 125 years, GE has invented the future of industry, and today it leads new paradigms in additive manufacturing, materials science, and data analytics. GE people are global, diverse and dedicated, operating with the highest integrity and passion to fulfill GE’s mission and deliver for our customers. www.gevernova.com
About GE’s Marine Solutions
GE's Marine Solutions is dedicated to power and propulsion systems for customers in the workboat, merchant, offshore and naval industries. Smart engineering coupled with software analytics, we provide customers with data-driven efficiency. Connecting the physical and digital worlds, GE helps power, propel, position and predict the marine industry for operational excellence.
About MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises is the world’s largest privately-owned cruise company and the number one cruise line in Europe, South America, South Africa and the Gulf. A game-changer in the world of cruises, the Company has achieved 800% growth in its first ten years, building a global reputation in the industry and one of the youngest cruise fleets at sea. MSC Cruises is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and is part of MSC Group, the Swiss-based leading shipping and logistics conglomerate.
The MSC Cruises fleet currently comprises 15 ultra-modern, highly innovative and elegantly designed ships, offering an unparalleled holiday experience with always delicious and authentic food, award-winning entertainment, plenty of relaxation, comfortable accommodation, as well as impeccable service and expertise.
Under its ambitious industry-unprecedented €13.6 billion investment plan, the fleet is set to expand to 29 cruise ships by 2027. To date, MSC Cruises has designed six new highly-innovative ship classes, all prototypes that push the boundaries of marine architecture and design. The Company also recently announced that it will build an additional ultra-luxury class of cruises hips, with yet more ground-breaking options for guest comfort.
MSC Cruises feels a deep responsibility towards the physical and human environments in which it operates and its ships are fitted with the latest environmental features and maritime technology. The Company operates with the greatest respect for the world’s oceans and is on an ongoing journey to further develop innovative ways of lowering the environmental impact of its cruise passages, from improving air quality from ship emissions, to advanced wastewater treatment, to comprehensive and coherent waste and garbage management.
MSC Cruises’ holiday experiences are sold across the globe through a distribution network in 70 countries. The Company employs over 23,500 people worldwide, both ashore and on board its ships.
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