Work on MSC Magnifica continues full speed ahead at the Aker Yards shipyard in Saint Nazaire. MSC Magnifica, the fourth twin in the “Musica” class, is scheduled to join MSC Crociere’s fleet in December, 2009.

The ship’s first section is currently composed of 28 main blocks, out of a final total of 53. This section – reaching 140 metres in length and 40 metres in height – has been moved to a new dock. Its overall weight, including the iron, machinery and ballast, will be approximately 20,000 tons upon completion, with an average draught of about 4.76 metres. 25 technicians from the Aker Yards France shipyard have moved the section to a new dock, without using tugboats.

On 1 August, 2008, the dock was flooded taking advantage of flood and ebb tides – in addition to using pumps. Once wet-docked and floating, the ship was moved from the mounting platform to Dock B, where it remained for another 15 days while other construction phases were completed.

The company currently has three ships under construction at the Aker Yards shipyard in Saint Nazaire: MSC Fantasia – the largest ship ever commissioned by a European shipowner, to be inaugurated in Naples on 18 December, its twin MSC Splendida – to be delivered in June 2009 –, and MSC Magnifica.

With a gross tonnage of 92,000 tons, MSC Magnifica will be the fourth twin in the “Musica” class and the 12th ship in MSC Crociere fleet.

Currently the MSC Sinfonia is calling at Malta every Friday with 2,200 passengers. Next summer the 133,500 ton brand new flagship MSC Splendida will visit Malta weekly with 4,000 passengers each time.

MSC Crociere are represented exclusively in the Maltese Islands by Hamilton Travel of 4, St Publius Street, Floriana.