MSC SEASIDE

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Latest news

Medevac off Gran Canaria

The Canary Islands Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center (ARCC Canarias) carried out a rescue mission, requested by Maritime Rescue (SASEMAR), in which the Air and Space Forces intervened, on Nov 5, 2024. At 3:20 p.m., an HD.21 Super Puma helicopter from the 82nd Group of the Armed Forces of Wing 46, based at the Gando Air Base, was mobilized to medevac a 60-year-old Danish passenger, who was in a serious condition due to peritonitis, aboard "MSC Seaside", which was located approximately 470 kilometres southwest of Gran Canaria. To optimise the mission, a D.4 "VIGMA" aircraft was also activated, which provided information on the winds at high altitude and facilitated the rescue manoeuvre by communicating with the cruise ship. The aircraft guided the helicopter on the course and speed that the ship had to maintain to facilitate the hoisting operation, while the satellite communications capacity (SATCOM) allowed real-time contact to be maintained between the SAR air resources and the ARCC Canarias. Once the passenger was hoisted on board the helicopter, he was taken to the helipad of the Juan Negrín Hospital, where he was picked up by an ambulance from the Canary Islands Emergency Service and taken to the hospital for treatment. The helicopter landed safely at Gando Air Base at 8:00 p.m., completing a total of 4 hours and 20 minutes of flight. Report with photo: https://teldeactualidad.com/art/166079/un-helicoptero-de-gando-rescata-pasajero-en-estado-grave-a-470-km-de-gran-canaria

Engine issues delayed return to port

On Aug 27, 2023, the 'MSC Seaside' suffered technical issues and power reduction in one of the engines, during a 7-night Western Caribbean sailing, and had a delayed return to Port Canaveral as a consequence. The passengers were nitified as well as booked guests of the next cruise. Guests were provided with free internet access to contact airlines or travel agencies. The ship had sailed from the port on Aug 20 en route to the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas, Costa Maya and Cozumel. Embarking guests for the next cruise to Nassau and the Marine Reserve were asked to deelay their arrival at port by two hours.

Cruise ship received an extremely low score on health inspection

The 'MSC Seaside' received an extremely low score on her most recent health inspection from the CDC, which was conducted on April 27, 2023. The ship received a failing score of 67, with the health agency’s report showing a large number of violations in areas including food preparation and storage, item storage, the crew manifest, and more. Cruise ships must receive a score of at least 86 to pass their unannounced inspections, which occur twice a year for vessels sailing from United States ports.The 'MSC Seaside' is currently based in Port Canaveral, Florida. MSC Seaside scored very well on its other CDC inspections, which took place in April 2018 and February 2019. The vessel received scores of 94 and 92 in those cases, respectively. During the latest inspection, however, inspectors noted a slew of infractions. Ten flies were located in the bar area near the undercounter technical compartments at the Seaside Bar. Foods in various parts of the ship were found to be in the temperature danger zone — being stored at warmer temperatures than is safe or allowed. Handles of self-service tongs were touching food at the buffet at multiple stations. Baskets of cleaned and sanitized cutlery were stored on top of a portable table that had old food debris on it. Dried food residue from at least a day prior was inside an open seam at the pizza preparation counter. Dried food residue was on the food-contact surface of a cleaned plate out for passenger self-service at the buffet. Old food soil and pooled water left over from the night before was inside condiment storage inserts below the grills at Teppanyaki. A crew member was observed cooking and handling raw hamburger meat and then opening the door to a cold store room without washing his hands. Pool depth markers were not prominently located in/around multiple pools. The total number of passengers and crew on board were not the totals listed on the logs. Multiple bathrooms around the ship had soap dispensers that were out of soap. The 'MSC Seaside' management must now submit a corrective action statement, saying how it has addressed its infractions. Following that, there will be another unannounced inspection to see whether the appropriate changes have been made.