GE to power two new Seaside cruise ships

The deal follows the successful earlier delivery of MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview.

“Sailing full steam ahead, the Seaside Class showcases our commitment to pushing the boundary of the future of cruising by unlocking the maximised potential that a cruise ship can achieve,” said Emilio La Scala, president and managing director of MSC Cruise Management UK.

With a gross tonnage of 169,400 tonnes and a total guest capacity of 5,632, Seaside EVO ships will be the largest cruise ships ever built by the Fincantieri shipyard.

GE’s solution comprises propulsion controls along with transformers, variable frequency drive technology, propulsion motors and distribution transformers.

The two previous vessels, Seaside and Seaview, have four 12.8MVA main transformers, variable frequency drive (VFD) core components, two synchronous, slow-speed propulsion motors and distribution transformers.

They have four Wärtsilä 46F-series medium-speed engines, two 16,800kW by 14-cylinder models and two 12-cylinder units delivering 14,400kW giving a combined maximum continuous rating of 62.4MW at 517rpm. The propulsion system has been engineered to ensure a maximum speed of 21.3 knots.

Emilio La Scala has stated that the new EVO ships will be longer and consequently more powerful than the previous two ships.