Italians bought Gaddafi’s cruise liner

Italians bought Gaddafi’s cruise liner

Italian cruise operator MSC bought the liner, which once belonged to Hannibal, one of the sons of Libyan dictator Gaddafi.

The cruise liner, which is designed for 4,000 people, was ordered by the Gaddafi's son to the Main State Maritime Transport Company. According to the Guardian, after launching of the super ship with displacement of 140 tons Gaddafi expected to start developing of luxury cruise shipping in Libya.

The cost of the liner was about 550 million Euros. The ship has 1751 cabins, 4 pools, 26 lifts, bowling and 21 bar located on 18 decks. In addition the ship also should have had an aquarium with sharks made specifically for Gaddafi's son.

The ship had already received the name - Phoenicia, in honor of the ancient civilization of the Phoenicians, who previously lived on the Libyan territory. The first cruise of the super liner was scheduled for December 2012, when it was to arrive to the port of Tripoli.

However, with the beginning of the military operation in Libya Gaddafi’s accounts were frozen. As a result the Libyan company could not pay the French shipyard STX in Saint-Nazaire. In turn STX canceled the order and put up the ship for sale. It was bought by one of the largest cruise companies in Europe - Italian Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).

Thus, the fleet, which now includes more than 460 vessels, acquired a super liner that now may become the MSC flagship. It has already received a new name - MSC Preziosa.

MSC Cruises has reported that the ship will be equipped with special suites, which guests will be able to use such additional luxury services as private bar, solarium, hydro-massage bath and recreation area with panoramic glass walls.

Ilya Kalachev

Date: 31/03/2012