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MSC Cruises
Company typePublic
IndustryTransportation
Founded1987
HeadquartersNaples, Italy
ProductsCruises
Websitehttp://www.msccruises.com/

MSC Cruises is a division of Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC).

Originally founded as Lauro Lines by Achille Lauro, the company entered the cruise business in the 1960s, operating two ships, the Angelina Lauro and MS Achille Lauro, both of which met fiery ends. After the Angelina Lauro burnt in the port of St.Thomas in 1979, Lauro Lines, also known as Flotta Lauro, met with bad times, now operating just one ship, the Achille Lauro. In 1985, the Achille Lauro was hijacked by members of the Palestine Liberation Front, and the much-publicised event further dropped passenger numbers. In 1987 Flotta Lauro was purchased by Mediterranean Shipping Company and renamed StarLauro Cruises. In 1994, the Achille Lauro caught fire and sank. Following this event, the company name was changed to MSC Cruises.

As of March 2008, MSC Cruises is the third-largest cruise operator in the world,[1] after Carnival Corporation & plc and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

On August 14, 2008, MSC Cruises signed a contract with Aker Yards to construct two more Musica-class ships, which are still subject to financing, at Aker Yards St-Nazaire. The ships would join their sisters the Musica, Orchestra, Poesia, and Magnifica in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

History

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Neapolitan businessman Achille Lauro had entered the cargo ship business in 1912, and built an extensive fleet of freighters by the beginning World War II.[2] Lauro's company Flotta Lauro operated tramp steamers and ships on a fixed chedule between ports in Italy and Africa. A notable part of the company fleet was lost during World War II, but after the war second-hand tonnage was quickly secured to ensure continued service.[3]

Following the end of World War II a large number of displaced persons wished to emigrate from Europe, alongside a number of people simply wishing for a fresh start. The government of Australia, meanwhile, begun a program to actively populate their continent by increased immigration. Initially Australia only accepted Briton immigrants, but in 1947 these restrictions were relaxed to allow in other European nationalities. At the same time the government of Australia entered an agreement with the International Refugee Organisation to take in displaced persons from Europe. To transport the migrants a large number of ships were required, but due to the effect of the war there was a shortage of suitable tonnage.[4] Lauro Line recognised the potential market opening and purchased the wreck of the Bank Line freighter MS Araybank alongside the former Grace Line passenger liner MS Santa Maria, which had served during the war as USS Barnett (APA-5). Both ships were extensively rebuilt for use on the migrant trade between Italy and Australia. The ex-Araybank entered service in August 1948 as MS Napoli, while the ex-Santa Maria followed in May 1949 as MS Surriento.[3]

In 1950 Flotta Lauro purchased two further second-hand vessels for the Australian migrant trade in the form of the escort aircraft carriers HMS Atheling and HMS Fencer. The ships were refitted for passenger service in Genoa and renamed SS Roma and SS Sydney, respectively. The Roma entered service on the Australian trade in August 1951, with the Sydney following in September of the same year. With the entry of the new ships into service the Napoli and Surriento were transferred from a new service between Italy and Central America.[3] In May 1953 the routes of various Lauro passenger vessels were altered when the Roma opened a new transatlantic service from Naples to New York via Genoa, with the Surriento returning to the Italy-Australia service. The New York service was terminated in December 1956, with the Roma returning to the Australian service and the Surriento to the South American service.[3]

Flotta Lauro ordered their first newbuilt passenger ships in 1962, when the company placed an order with Ansaldo Shipyard for a pair of 30,000 GRT, 1,700 passenger steamships which were planned to replace the Sydney and Roma. However, before construction of the new vessels could begin Flotta Lauro purchased the Oranje and the Willem Ruys in 1964, and the contract for contructing the new ships was changed to a contract to rebuilt Lauro's new acquisitions. The ships were renamed MS Angelina Lauro and MS Achille Lauro, respectively, and were radically rebuilt. The refitting of both ships was delayed by a fire, and they did not enter service with Flotta Lauro until early 1966.[3]

Ships

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Under Construction

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Premium Fleet

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MSC Orchestra at Istanbul

Classic Fleet

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Former ships

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Only includes cruise ships. Not a complete list.

References

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  1. ^ "MSC Cruises' research finds honeymoon market good niche for travel agents in UK". Cruise Business Online. Cruise Media Oy Ltd. 2008-03-17. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
  2. ^ Boyle, Ian. "Flotta Lauro - Lauro Lines". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d e Maber, John M. (1967). North Star to Southern Cross - The story of the Australasian Seaways. Prescot: T. Stephenson & Sons Ltd. pp. 282–284.
  4. ^ Plowman, Peter (2006). Australian Migrant Ships 1946-1977. Rosenberg Publishing. p. 4. ISBN 1 877058 40 8.
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Category:Cruise lines


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