MSC Cruises’ latest LNG-powered ship, MSC World America, has completed its deep-water systems tests during a final sea trial in the Atlantic Ocean.
The LNG-powered ship will become MSC Cruises’ 23rd ship and represents an evolution of the cruise line’s world class platform with re-imagined venues and concepts tailored specifically to the US market.
MSC Cruises, the cruise unit of Switzerland-based shipping giant MSC, said in a statement the sea trials checked the performance of the ship’s engines, maneuverability, fuel consumption, safety systems, speed and stopping distances.
The ship will now receive its final finishing touches at France’s Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire before being officially delivered to the cruise line on March 27.
MSC World America will then be officially named on April 9 at the new MSC cruise terminal in PortMiami, the largest cruise terminal in the world.
The ship’s maiden voyage will be a celebratory sailing to the company’s private island Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in The Bahamas ahead of the vessel’s deployment in the Caribbean Sea, the cruise line said.
The 22-deck gross tonnage 216,638 vessel measures 333.3 meters in length and is 47 meters wide, with a capacity for 6,762 passengers and 2,138 crew.
In April last year, Chantiers de l’Atlantique launched this second LNG-powered world class vessel.
In addition to MSC World America, the steel-cutting ceremony for the company’s third world class ship marked the start of that vessel’s construction.
MSC Cruises’ current orderbook includes MSC World Asia to be delivered in 2026 and a yet unnamed fourth world class vessel in 2027.