Cruise ShipsPast and Present

MSC Opera, Past and Present

MSC Opera

© Gerolf Drebes

© Gerolf Drebes

Steel twin pod motor vessel built in 2004 by Chantiers Atlantique, France (Yard No L32) for Mediterranean Shipping Co, Panama

Technical Data

  • Original Cost: $270 million
  • Length: 274.9m (overall) 235.9m (between perpendiculars)
  • Breadth: 28.80m
  • Depth: 34.85m
  • Draught: 6.81m (max)
  • Tonnage: 59,058 gross – 65.991/ 33,747 net – 711/5,138 deadweight – 6260
  • Passenger Decks: 10
  • Engines: Four Wartsila 12V/38A diesels
  • Power: 30m600 kW/HP
  • Speed: 21.7 knots
  • Cabins (total): 878, 1,071
  • Capacity: 1,712 (normal) – 2,199 passengers (maximum)/ 2,679 passengers (maximum after renovation)
  • Crew: 728
  • Call Sign: H3FV
  • IMO Number: 9250464
  • Register Number: 02210E
  • Port of Registry: Genoa/Italy, Panama
  • Sister-Ship: MSC Armonia, MSC Lirica, MSC Sinfonia


Current AIS Location


Please note that this specific vessels AIS position data may be over an hour old and that the vessels position will only be displayed when it is within range of the VesselFinder AIS system. The AIS transponder/ship position data featured on this page is intended for information purposes only and it is in no way related to the 'Safety of Navigation at Sea'. All the AIS ship position data featured within this article is provided by VesselFinder and we are therefore not responsible for its content or its accuracy.


History

© Hans Deijs

© Hans Deijs

May 23rd 2004: Completed.

June 26th 2004: Christened by Sophia Loren in Genoa.

June 2004: Delivered to Mediterranean Shipping Co, Panama.

  

© Aleksi Lindström

June 27th 2004: Commenced cruising in the Mediterranean Sea.

2007: Registered owner: Lycoper Holdings Inc. Ship manager: Mediterranean Shipping Co

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.

May 14th 2011: Suffered engine failure in the Baltic Sea. She was towed to the port of Nynäshamn, south of Stockholm, where passengers were transferred to small boats. 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.

May 17th 2011: Departed Nynäshamn en route to Gdynia in Poland for repairs.

May 19th 2011: Arrival Gdynia.

May 22nd 2011: After repairs, left Gdynia for Southampton.

May 27th 2011: Resumed cruising.

© Derek Sands  © Derek Sands

© Derek Sands

© Willem Oldenburg  © Willem Oldenburg

© Willem Oldenburg

July 4th 2015: Renovated under the “Renaissance Programme“. Following her enhancement work, increased number of cabins by 197 new cabins, for a total of 204 balcony cabins aboard. Redesigned restaurants and bars.

© Willem Oldenburg  © Willem Oldenburg

© Willem Oldenburg

© Simonwp   © Nigel Thornton

© Simonwp (left) © Nigel Thornton (right) (both @ Dover)


All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Hans Deijs, Gerolf Drebes, Aleksi Lindström, Willem Oldenburg, Derek Sands, Simonwp and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.

Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)

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