LNG dual-fuel MSC World America completes sea trials

MSC Cruises’ latest flagship, MSC World America, has successfully completed its deepwater intensive systems tests during a final sea trial in the Atlantic Ocean. The sea trials checked the performance of the ship’s engines, manoeuvrability, fuel consumption, safety systems, speed and stopping distances. 

The LNG-powered vessel will now receive its final finishing touches at Chantiers de l’Atlantique’s shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France before being delivered to the cruise line on 27 March. MSC World America will be named on 9 April at the new MSC Cruise Terminal in Miami, 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 ship’s inaugural season from Miami starts on 12 April.

MSC World America will become MSC Cruises’ 23rd ship and “represents an evolution” for the cruise line’s World-class platform with re-imagined venues and concepts tailored specifically to the US market, combining “European style with American comfort”. The new ship will also be the first in the company’s fleet to feature seven onboard districts and will have eight bars and lounges, 19 dining venues, including four main restaurants, two buffets, two venues in the MSC Yacht Club exclusively for its guests, plus six separate speciality restaurants.

The 22-deck 216,638-gt vessel measures 333 m in length and is 47 m wide, with a capacity for 6,762 passengers and 2,138 crew, features 2,614 cabins and offers more than 38,400 m² of public space.

A statement said, “MSC World America’s use of LNG enables a direct transition towards drop-in bio and synthetic renewable LNG fuels. The ship is fitted with shore power connectivity, which allows the ship’s engines to be switched off while in port, eliminating local emissions and improving local air quality and the new MSC Cruise Terminal in Miami is equipped with shore power capability. The ship also has an advanced wastewater treatment plant and a comprehensive onboard recycling management plant to minimise waste.”

MSC Cruises’ current orderbook includes MSC World Asia, to be delivered in 2026, and a yet unnamed fourth World-class vessel in 2027.