Luxury cruise liner ordered by Gaddafi's fourth son Hannibal who was in charge of the national owned company GNMTC was bought by Italian shipping billionaire Gianluigi Aponte.
Gianluigi Aponte founded MSC 40 years ago and today presents one of the world’s biggest shipping companies with around 460 cargo vessels and cruise ships.
Hannibal Gaddafi ordered the building of this cruise liner back in 2010 and needed to be the first cruise ship owned by Arab company. Named Phoenicia after ancient civilization that settled what is today’s Libya this 140,000 tonnage Cruise ship is worth 550 million euros. Due to failure to keep up with payments of the Vessel STX shipyard canceled the order and sold it to MSC Cruises.
New name of the ship will be MSC Preziosa and will be ready to set sail in 2013. MSC Cruises was founded in 1990, it has since grown into a fleet of 11 ships, with a 12th set to debut in Marseilles in late May, and MSC Preziosa will be #13.
Ship info
MSC Preziosa will be 333 meters long, have 1,751 staterooms, 17 guest elevators, including a private elevator for MSC Yacht Club guests, 14 guest decks, four main restaurants, including two specialty restaurants, 21 bars, a casino, four swimming pools, including an infinity pool, 12 whirlpools, mini-bowling, a sports area with game courts, a fitness center, a children’s area and the MSC Aurea Spa.
