PHOTO: The MSC Armonia was cut in two so a pre-built addition could be inserted. (Courtesy of MSC Cruises)
When you want to enlarge your house, you build an addition and cut a door in the walls so you can get in and out. When a cruise ship gets an addition, it's a little more complicated.
Consider: the MSC Armonia - an 825-foot-long, 58,600-gross-ton ship - was literally cut in half so an addition could be inserted into the middle of it.
The remarkable feat was performed at the Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo, Sicily. The 14,000-ton bow was moved about 100 feet away on rails so an 80-foot-wide pre-built section could be inserted.
The meticulous prep work began on Sept. 2, when steel-cutting began. Electrical systems were deactivated the next day. The separation was finished on Sept. 8.
Now the new section will be secured and the rest of the ship will be renovated, with completion scheduled for Nov. 17. The work is part of MSC Cruises' $273 million Renaissance Program, which will also enlarge and enhance the MSC Lirica, MSC Sinfonia and MSC Opera. The ships will get new amenities - including children's clubs, new buffet features, a bigger restaurant and lounge area, a library, fancier spa and an aqua park - as well as nearly 200 new staterooms.
The 2001-built ship will also get improvements to reduce its impact on the environment. A new hull treatment will minimize drag to reduce fuel consumption, while a "variable speed drive inverter" will be installed to reduce the ship's electricity consumption by adjusting it in line with operational conditions. In addition, LED technology will be installed in all public spaces because it consumers less energy.
The Renaissance Program is part of MSC Cruises' unprecedented growth. The Italian line has four new cruise ships on order and is on track to operate 16 ships by 2019 and possibly 19 by 2022 if three options are exercised.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
