MSC Opera. 12 May 2011

I already posted this entry yesterday, but due to Blogger's technical problems it seems to have disappeared, along with all other changes made. Here's an abridged repost.

MSC Opera

IMO 9250464
Built 2004, Chantiers de l'Atlantique St. Nazaire, France
Tonnage 59 058 GT
Length 251,25 m
Width 28,80 m
Draught 6,60 m
2 200 passengers
2 200 berths
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 30 600 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 21,7 knots

MSC Opera was MSC Cruises' second newbuild and a sister ship to MSC Lirica. Unlike the MSC Lirica the MSC Opera has carried MSC Cruises' current dark blue funnel colours from the beginning of her career - the MSC Lirica originally carried the old MSC Cruises funnel colours, an all white funnel with MSC written on it with gilded letters. As noted before, the design of the MSC Lirica and MSC Opera was based on that of Festival Cruises' Mistral (now Iberocruceros' Grand Mistral).

The photographs below show the MSC Opera departing from Helsinki Länsisatama (West Harbour) on the afternoon of 12 May 2011. Photographed from Lauttasaari. Click on the individual images to view larger size.

In the afternoon calm just after leaving the harbour.

No idea what the splahes of blue pain on the side are.

Passing the Finnish Navy's new multipurpose vessel Louhi outside Pihlajasaari. The Louhi is an oil and chemical spill response vessel that can also be used a supply ship and minelayer.

Less than a decade ago MSC Opera was the largest ship in MSC Cruises' fleet. Now she's the smallest and actually looks quite humble compared to the giant ships visiting the West Harbour.

Outbound to the open seas and the joys of St. Petersburg.