MSC Opera

MS MSC Opera is a cruise ship built in 2004, carrying 2,679 passengers in 1,071 cabins, and with a crew complement of approximately 728, currently operated by Swiss company MSC Cruises. She served as the flagship of the company until MSC Musica entered service in 2006.

History
Name: MSC Opera
Owner: MSC Cruises
Operator: MSC Cruises
Port of registry: Panama City,  Panama
Builder: Chantiers de l'Atlantique, St. Nazaire, France
Launched: 11 September 2003
Christened: June 26, 2004 by Sophia Loren in Genoa[1]
Maiden voyage: June 27, 2004[1]
Identification:
Status: In service
General characteristics
Class and type: Lirica class cruise ship
Tonnage:
  • 59,058 GT
  • 65,591 GT (after renovation)
Length:
  • 251.25 m (824.3 ft)
  • 274.9 m (902 ft) (after renovation)
Beam:
  • 28.8 m (94 ft)
  • 32 m (105 ft) (after renovation)
Height: 54 m (177 ft)
Draught: 6.8 m (22 ft 4 in)
Depth: 6.6 m (22 ft)
Decks:
  • 9 (passengers accessible)
  • 13 (total)
Propulsion:
Speed: 21.1 knots (39.1 km/h; 24.3 mph)
Capacity:
  • 2,150 (double occupancy)
  • 2,679 passengers (maximum after renovation)
Crew: 728

Renaissance program

It was the third ship of the Lirica class to undergo renovation under the "Renaissance Program". New features included a spray park, refurbished shops, new child and teen areas, an enhanced buffet, a new lounge and an extended restaurant. The work was completed on 4 July 2015.[2]

Incidents

In May 2010, one week after a similar incident on board the MSC Orchestra, UK Border Agency officers at Dover found a large quantity of cocaine concealed in four passenger cabins. Four Latvians and three Lithuanians were later convicted at Canterbury Crown Court and sentenced to a total of 84 years' imprisonment.[3]

On 14 May 2011, she suffered engine failure in the Baltic Sea and was towed to the port of Nynäshamn, south of Stockholm, where passengers were transferred to smaller vessels.[4] Around 1,700 passengers were flown home from Stockholm during the day. The ship was without power after the engine failure and internet reports stated that bathrooms were inoperable, causing some sanitation issues. Passengers were given a voucher to cover the cost of the cruise. On 17 May 2011, the ship departed Nynäshamn en route to Gdynia in Poland for repairs.

On 24 March 2019, the Portuguese police of Madeira arrested twelve people on board her (arriving at the port of Funchal in the Azores from the Caribbean), after finding 18 kg of cocaine hidden in bags of chips.[5]

On 2 June 2019, the ship allided with the quay and a docked river cruise ship[6] moored at the San Basilio Pier in the Giudecca Canal in Venice, Italy.[7][8] The cause was later found to be technical difficulties with the engines while under tow. She sustained superficial scratches, while the smaller river vessel was more damaged. Five people were slightly injured.[9][10][11][12]

References
  1. "Sophia Loren to be Godmother of New MSC Opera". PRNewswire. 15 Jun 2004. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  2. Staff, C. I. N. (20 May 2014). "MSC Renaissance Program Begins with Laying Out of Armonia's New Section". www.cruiseindustrynews.com.
  3. http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2011/may/30cruise-ship-cocaine%5B%5D
  4. "Cruise ship loses power at sea". NBC News. 16 May 2011.
  5. Jim Walker (2019-03-28). "Drug Bust on the MSC Opera: Cocaine in Your Cheetos?". Cruise Law News.
  6. The river cruise ship was the Uniworld "River Countess"
  7. video.lastampa.it/cronaca/la-ricostruzione-dello-scontro-tra-la-msc-opera-e-il-battello-river-countess/99915/99928
    (AIS data on "www.myshiptracking.com")
  8. http://www.lastampa.it/cronaca/2019/06/03/news/nave-da-crociera-fuori-controllo-paura-e-polemiche-a-venezia-1.36538104
  9. Dibelius, Georgia. "Four injured as cruise ship smashes into dock at Venice". Metro. Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  10. "Out-of-control cruise ship crashes into river cruise ship on Venice canal". June 2, 2019.
  11. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/venice-cruise-ship-msc-opera-plows-into-dock-and-tourist-boat-today-2019-06-02/, Huge cruise ship plows into dock in Venice; at least 5 injured
  12. "Venice crash captain ordered 'all procedures to avoid impact'". BBC News. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
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