At the Aker Yards France shipyards in St. Nazaire, they have just been observing one of the oldest marine traditions: the Coin Ceremony.
In the presence of Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of MSC Crociere and of Jacques Hardelay, managing director of Aker Yards France, the heads of the shipyard sealed two coins into the central block of MSC Magnifica, which will join MSC Crociere’s fleet during the spring of 2010. The godmothers of the ceremony were Lidia Aversa, Promotion Manager of MSC Technical Department since 1993, and Mrs Anne Hardelay for Aker Yards France.
Following tradition, the first coin was donated by the ship owner and the second one by the shipyard. The MSC Crociere coin – minted in pure gold for the occasion – bears the City of Venice coat of arms as a testimony of the deep bond between the company and the Serenissima, Venice. The other side of the coin shows the traditional rose of the winds, the MSC logo.
The Aker Yards France coin is a 1978 50 French francs silver coin.
MSC Magnifica will be delivered to the ship owner in December 2009. It will be the 12th unit of the fleet and the fourth sister ship of the Musica Class. The Magnifica will displace 93,300 tonnes and have 1,259 cabins, 80 per cent of them external, for a total capacity of 3,779 passengers.
Two other units are currently being built at the St Nazaire shipyards: the MSC Fantasia and its sister ship, the MSC Splendida. Both will be the largest ships ever built for a European ship owner (133,500 tonnes displacement). They will be the start of a new management of space concept in cruise ships. Passengers will be offered an exclusive VIP area – the MSC Yacht Club, on board MSC Fantasia – with 99 spacious suites, exclusive service with a butler, private access and reserved common areas.
MSC Fantasia will be launched in Naples next 18 December, while delivery of the MSC Splendida is expected in June 2009.
“MSC Magnifica is our fourth new ship in 24 months. With her, we have reached the highest growth rate of these last years, allowing us to expand our fleet significantly,” said Mr Vago. “MSC Magnifica should therefore be seen as another step towards our goal: reaching 12 units by 2010. The arrival of MSC Magnifica, with its technical features, such as the Magrodome, is proof of our commitment to fulfill our clients’ needs. We have increased our offer in answer to their wish to cruise all year long, regardless of weather conditions.”
“The Musica Class has proved its efficiency on the European cruise market. The MSC Magnifica, fourth vessel of the series, is the ultimate evolution,” stated Jacques Hardeley, Managing Director of Aker Yards France. It will bring more fun, new experiences, more comfort to cruise passengers while keeping operation costs low for MSC Cruises.
With MSC, we are not only following the growth of a new leader on the cruise market, we are changing the way operators look at their relationship with shipbuilders and what results they can expect from a good cooperation.”
MSC Crociere is exclusively represented in Malta by Hamilton Travel of 4, St Publius Street, Floriana.