SIMIC

ON November 20, 2023, the port of Gioia Tauro in Italy witnessed the naming ceremony of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Celestino Maresca, a colossal container vessel with a capacity of 24,116 TEU, marking it as one of the world's largest and most sustainable ships, reports Rotterdam's Offshore Energy.

This vessel is part of MSC's groundbreaking class of vessels, and its inauguration pays homage to Captain Celestino Maresca, a stalwart who joined MSC in 1978 and played a pivotal role in establishing MSC's ship management office in Sorrento.



The ceremony included a blessing of the ship, with Captain Maresca's wife, the vessel's godmother, cutting the ceremonial ribbon.



Constructed at the Jiangnan Shanghai Changxing HI shipyard in China, the ultra-large container vessel (ULCV) boasts impressive dimensions, measuring 400 metres long, 61.5 metres in beam, and 17 metres in draft.



Delivered on March 23, the MSC Celestino Maresca stands as a testament to Captain Maresca's enduring contributions to the company.



Noteworthy for its commitment to sustainability, the vessel incorporates innovative features such as a low-speed electronically controlled engine, an air lubrication system, a ballast water treatment system, and a Wartsila hybrid scrubber system.



These environmentally friendly elements underscore MSC's dedication to reducing its ecological footprint.



Despite ongoing challenges in the maritime industry, MSC's strategic moves, including the launch of the record-breaking Celestino Maresca class vessels in July 2023 and consistent investment in the business, earned the company the prestigious 'Shipping Company of the Year' award at the Seatrade Maritime Awards 2023.