MSC Italian Cruises'2004 built, 59,058gt. MSC OPERA reg.Panama, arriving at Istanbul from the Black Sea,on September 30th,2009.
Picture added on 14 October 2009 at 08:48
Comments:
From the vesseltracker web site on 15 May 2011: "The "MSC Opera" with 2000 people on board is being towed to Visby without power and very poor hygiene with the bathrooms unoperable after there was an explosion in an engine on May 13, 2011. The captain tried to continue the voyage with one remaining main engine, but this failed. On May 15 tugs were called to pull the vessel to Visby where the battered vessel was due to arrive May 16 morning. Meanwhile a team of MSC Cruises was sent to Sweden to assist the passengers."
More news from the same source on 17 May 2011: "The crippled "MSC Opera" was expected at Nynäshamn on May 16 at 11.30 a.m., being pulled by the "Freja" and "Svitzer Trym". As the ship would not be able to berth due to the small size of the port, passengers will have to be evacuated to shore by boats where 44 busses were ready for further transportation to an airport of those passengers who return to England, and some more busses for direct transport of passengers to Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. As there are no Swed(es) among the passengers, the local custom(s) has already (rei)nforced its staff by 8."
"The "MSC Opera" with 2000 people on board is being towed to Visby without power and very poor hygiene with the bathrooms unoperable after there was an explosion in an engine on May 13, 2011. The captain tried to continue the voyage with one remaining main engine, but this failed. On May 15 tugs were called to pull the vessel to Visby where the battered vessel was due to arrive May 16 morning. Meanwhile a team of MSC Cruises was sent to Sweden to assist the passengers."
Added by Peter Langsdale on 15 May 2011.