MSC ‘Fantasia’ scrubber retrofit certified

The MARPOL test certifies that the newly installed equipment is in line with EU requirements. The Fantasia is the first MSC vessel to have scrubbers installed, with the second, Preziosa, scheduled for sea trial in the first week of May and MED certification by mid-June.

Other ships in MSC Cruises’ fleet are set to be retrofitted with exhaust gas cleaning systems in coming years, ahead of the entry into force of the IMO’s global sulphur cap in January 2020. The hybrid Yara scrubbers will ensure compliance with both the 0.5% global limit and the 0.1% sulphur cap currently enforced in Emission Control Areas.

The project was led by a team from STX France, the yard that originally built the two vessels. The installation of the process equipment was completed with the ship in full operation, while exhaust gas cleaning system installation was carried out at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Palermo.

Emilio La Scala, president and managing director, technical department, MSC Cruises, said: “We are pleased to have received Bureau Veritas’ MED Certificate for our first vessel as we continue to work to meet existing as well as upcoming international sulphur emissions requirements.”