Image: MSC Cruises

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MSC Cruises has this week held ceremonies for two new vessels that are to be fitted with exhaust gas scrubber technology.

The coin ceremony for the MSC Bellissima and the steel-cutting ceremony for the first Meraviglia-Plus ship, MSC Grandiosa, were both held on November 15 at the STX France shipyard.

Commenting on the features of the two newbuilds, MSC Cruises Executive Chairman, Pierfrancesco Vago, said: "These ships will be once again at the forefront of environmental technology at sea. In fact, amongst other innovations, they will feature the latest hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems, SCR-Catalysts, state-of-the-art waste management and recycling capabilities, emission-reducing energy and heat recovery systems, and highly advanced wastewater treatment."

The two vessels are due to come into service in March 2019 and November 2019 respectively.

As Bunker Index previously reported in February, the MSC Fantasia was the first MSC Cruises ship to be retrofitted with exhaust gas cleaning systems; it received its EU Marine Equipment Directive (MED) Certificate from Bureau Veritas after passing MARPOL's scrubber test.

The MSC Fantasia is fitted with Yara Marine's exhaust gas cleaning technology.

Back in June, MSC Cruises also confirmed that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with STX France to firm up the order of two LNG-fuelled mega cruise ships, with options for two additional vessels.

The 200,000-grt vessels are to be delivered in 2022 and 2024 and each have a length of 330 metres and 47 metres of beam. The two additional ship options are for delivery in 2025 and 2026. The vessels will form part of the new 'World Class' series of MSC Cruises ships.