MSC Cruises has retained the consortium of electrical propulsion system providers it assembled for its Seaside class as it begins work on the bigger, Seaside EVO vessels
MSC Cruises has retained the consortium of electrical propulsion system providers it assembled for its Seaside class as it begins work on the bigger, Seaside EVO vessels.
The shipowner and shipbuilder Fincantieri will add an extra 4.8MW of engine power onboard its Seaside EVO-class cruise ships, which are nearly 35,500gt bigger and a deck taller than Seaside-class vessels Seaside and Seaview.
Included in this added power is an extra 2MW for propulsion of the two 169,400gt, 5,632-passenger vessels, to be provided through two slow-speed, synchronous motors driving twin shaftlines. The 21MW motors will be supplied by GE Marine, which is leading the consortium to design and specify electric propulsion technology for the new ships.
GE Marine Solutions is overseeing the design and specification of the propulsion system. As well as the propulsion motors it will provide four 13.5MVA propulsion transformers, four variable frequency drive core components and distribution transformers. The consortium is completed by Italian suppliers NIDEC, supplying generators, and Imesa, providing medium-voltage switchboards.
MSC Cruises and Fincantieri have yet to confirm the engine selection for the two new vessels that will provide the needed 67.2MW of installed power. The earlier Seaside-class vessels feature four Wärtsilä engines for a total of 62.4MW.
“MSC Seaside EVO ships will be longer and consequently more powerful than the previous two ships concerning power generation and propulsion motors,” said MSC Cruise Management UK president and managing director Emilio La Scala. “The Seaside class showcases our commitment to unlocking the potential that a cruise ship can achieve.”
The vessels will be built at Fincantieri’s yard in Monfalcone. The first, MSC Seahorse, will be delivered in 2021. The second, as yet unnamed vessel will be delivered the following year.
Propulsion projects that improve efficiency are eligible for nomination in several categories at the Marine Propulsion Awards. Make your nominations before 11 March.
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