MSC Puts Some of The Coin They Are Spending On the Ship

MSC held the traditional coin ceremony for their new Explora yesterday at Fincantieri's shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. The ship is the first of four ordered for Explora Journeys, MSC's new luxury brand.

Laying coins on the keel and hoping for good luck is a tradition among shipowners and shipbuilders.

The tradition continued yesterday in Italy for MSC's new build when the vessel's godmothers, Alessandra Fontana, Chief Marketing Officer, for Explora Journeys representing the owners, and Ester Fugazzi, Head of General Services for Fincantieri representing the shipbuilder, laid the coins on the keel.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruises Division of MSC Group said, "Italy is important for the entire maritime sector and our Cruise Divisions' €6 billion expenditure with Fincantieri for four Explora Journeys luxury ships and four MSC Cruises' vessels has made a significant economic impact of €27 billion to the country"

Giuseppe Bono, the Fincantieri CEO, added: "The Explora I will be a new-concept ship totally projected into the future, the utmost expression of the partnership between MSC and Fincantieri. Indeed, the partnership with this shipowner is marked by constant technological and design evolution. In a few years, this has led to three different cutting-edge prototypes and has emphasized the unique ability of our Group to create innovation."