MONACO, Aug. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Silversea's
new ship Silver Moon is one step closer to welcoming the
cruise line's guests, having successfully carried out her sea
trials between August 8th
and August 20th. Carrying
a reduced crew of approximately 320 due to precautionary health
protocols, the ship journeyed between Fincantieri's shipyards in
Ancona and Trieste, Italy,
undergoing a week-long dry-dock period in the latter. With a
delivery date set for October
30th, Silver Moon will become the second
ship to join Silversea's ultra-luxury fleet in 2020, following the
delivery of Silver Origin on June 3.
THE SEA TRIALS
Silversea's senior officers, external engineers, and
representatives from both Fincantieri and the Royal Caribbean Group
put Silver Moon through a series of preliminary tests in the
Adriatic Sea - including noise, and vibration tests - for three
days from August 8th. Once
Silver Moon was out of the water in Trieste, stability tests
were performed; public spaces were inspected; and engineers applied
the finishing touches to the ship's exterior, including the
cleaning and painting of the hull, and the polishing of the ship's
brass propellers. Secondary tests, including speed tests, were then
carried out on the return sailing from Trieste to Ancona. Work has
now recommenced on the ship's interior, ahead of the vessel's
official delivery in October.
SILVER MOON'S BUILD IN NUMBERS
The sister ship of Silversea's Silver Muse, Silver Moon
represents the latest accomplishment in the cruise line's
long-standing partnership with the illustrious shipbuilder
Fincantieri. During the peak months of Silver Moon's
construction in Ancona, over 1,000 skilled professionals were
working on the ship simultaneously, with over 390 companies
contributing to the build. Painted using almost 100,000L of paint,
over 15,000 steel plates and profiles were cut to form the ship's
superstructure – 920t of which were transported from 755nm away.
Approximately 1,690,000m of electric
cable were installed by 18 contractors, as well as 60,000m2 of insulation, 450,000kg of
air conditioning ducts, and 92,000kg of ventilation ducts.
Moreover, over 5,000 automation channels have been installed to
link the ship's mechanisms.
CAPTAIN ALESSANDRO ZANELLO –
SILVER MOON'S MASTER
With over 20 years of experience at Silversea Cruises alone,
Captain Alessandro Zanello was at
the helm for the launch of Silver Moon's sister ship,
Silver Muse, back in 2017, and was also present for the sea
trials of Silver Spirit in 2009.
"As my third with Silversea, I must say that Silver
Moon's sea trials felt a little surreal after everything that
happened in the months prior," says Zanello. "I was
originally scheduled to travel to the shipyard in Ancona in April.
I was with family in Canada at the
time. Unfortunately there were no flights from Canada to Ancona, so I was unable to reach the
ship until July. The sea trials themselves felt special, indeed,
and were held in unique circumstances. Enhanced health and
safety protocols were in place, including temperature screenings,
physical distancing, and the wearing of face coverings both on the
ship and in the shipyard. Meal hours were extended and we ate with
fewer people in the restaurant. During the sea trials themselves,
we had far fewer people on board than for those of Silver
Muse. Safety was the primary concern. Nevertheless, we managed
to carry out all test successfully. I must admit, sea trials can
often be stressful, with too many people on the bridge; it was
quite pleasant to have a more tranquil environment. Perhaps we will
be forced to review our processes going forwards – this could be a
positive thing. At the end of the sea trials, we shared a
celebratory glass of prosecco with the team from Fincantieri. The
ship is coming on nicely and she really is looking spectacular.
This is a momentous occasion for all of us; we have worked very
hard to reach this point. One of the most special moments for me
was going into the dock to see the ship's hull, before and after
the painting. A small tradition of mine: I like to take a photo in
front of the bulbous bow, when a fresh coat of paint glistens on
the hull."
GUIDO CAPURRO – SILVER
MOON'S CHIEF ENGINEER
Promoted to the position of Chief Engineer aboard Silver
Spirit in 2017, Guido Capurro
participated in his first sea trials with Silversea aboard
Silver Moon. Not only is Capurro responsible for the
operation of the ship's main and auxiliary engines, but he also
directs the onboard technical department, with responsibilities
that include air conditioning, plumbing, lifeboat engines, and
launching apparatus.
"While all essential technicians from Silversea and Fincantieri
were able to attend the sea trials, some external engineers were
unable to fly and so could not be present. Approximately half the
number of people were on board compared to regular sea trials.
Nevertheless, we were able to carry out all tests successfully.
These were my first sea trials with Silversea and it is always
spectacular to see the ship at its peak performance, and to see how
the automation and safety devices react to the sudden change in
demand. Everything went really well and the ship's responses
exceeded expectations. I was thrilled to see the ship's propellers
out of the water once again, as they were polished during the
dry-docking period in Trieste. The better they are polished, the
better the ship's performance. The hull was painted with a special
antifouling with a very low roughness, which is an important task
in optimizing the performance of the ship."
PAOLO PERCIVALE – SILVER MOON'S HOTEL DIRECTOR
The son of a Captain, Hotel Director Paolo Percivale proudly participated in the
launch of both Silver Spirit in 2009 and Silver Muse
in 2017, before bringing his expertise aboard Silver Moon.
As Hotel Director, he will oversee the entire hotel operation on
board, managing a team of over 350 crewmembers to deliver
exceptional service to Silversea's guests.
"Just 10 days after we joined the shipyard at the beginning of
March, the lockdown was implemented and everything came to a halt.
We lived through the lockdown in Ancona. Guido and I, along with
several other members of the team, were working from apartments in
the city until the end of April, which was very difficult. After a
spell back home once the lockdown ended, I returned to the shipyard
on July 1st. It's great to
finally see Silver Moon nearing completion and to experience
the various enhancements we have made from Silver Muse. In
the Dolce Vita Lounge, for example, a beautiful bar has been
installed as the space's focal point, while La Dame Restaurant has
been enriched with hand-crafted Lalique crystal panels. All public
areas and suites are looking remarkable – I just can't wait to
welcome our guests on board, enjoying these new atmospheric venues.
I am especially excited to see the reactions of our guests to our
inspiring new S.A.L.T. programme, and our new S.A.L.T. venues,
which is sure to be more than positive. She is a beautiful vessel,
indeed."
"Silver Moon successfully passed her sea trials and we
are now nearing the ship's delivery," says Giovanni Stecconi,
Director of Fincantieri's Ancona shipyard. "We look forward to
celebrating that momentous occasion together with Silversea, a
cruise line whose growth we have contributed to with pride and
determination, thanks to ambitious projects such as the 'Muse'
class, of which Silver Moon is a part."
"Silver Moon will be an innovative addition to our
expanding fleet of ultra-luxury ships," says Roberto Martinoli, Silversea's President and
CEO. "Building on the success of our beloved flagship Silver
Muse, Silver Moon will push boundaries in travel to unlock
meaningful experiences for our guests around the world. Our
pioneering new S.A.L.T. programme is just one way in which
travellers will delve deep into destinations, and I look forward to
personally welcoming our guests aboard Silver Moon in the
near future. I extend my gratitude to the entire team at
Fincantieri, who have demonstrates their skill and know-how;
Captain Zanello and his officers, who have worked tirelessly;
Silversea's committed shoreside team for their enduring
professionalism; and our colleagues at the Royal Caribbean Group,
who continue to strengthen our cruise line with their invaluable
support. The fact that our beautiful Silver Moon nears
completion, despite such challenging circumstances, is a testament
to the exceptional resilience and expertise of all involved in her
build. For this I am very proud."
Watch a video of Silver Moon underway during her sea
trials:
https://youtu.be/rDP4My09I5g
View and download related material on Silver Moon's media
kit:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0bbytzywhz3xhq4/AABtE3500MEuujUrKUfPEEEFa?dl=0
Read an article on Silver Moon's interior design:
https://discover.silversea.com/on-board/a-taste-of-s-a-l-t-on-silver-moon
View Silver Moon's scheduled voyages:
https://www.silversea.com/ships/silver-moon.html
Read key information & quirky facts:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/q2utvr9eetpsxx5/Silver%20Moon%20-%20Key%20Information%20%26%20Quirky%20Facts.docx?dl=0
About Silversea
Part of the Royal Caribbean Group, Silversea Cruises—in which
Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio serves as
Chairman—is recognised as an innovator in the ultra-luxury cruise
industry, offering guests large-ship amenities aboard its intimate,
all-suite vessels: Silver Wind, Silver
Shadow, Silver Whisper, Silver
Spirit and Silver Muse – all designed to
offer an atmosphere of conviviality and casual elegance. With the
inclusion of the expedition ships Silver
Origin, Silver Explorer, and Silver
Cloud, Silversea's itineraries encompass all seven continents
and feature worldwide luxury cruises to the Mediterranean,
Caribbean, the Galapagos, both
Polar Regions, and hundreds of fascinating destinations in between.
Silversea is also looking forward to the launch of four new
ultra-luxury ships: Silver Moon, Silver
Dawn, and two Evolution-class ships. Browse Silversea's
blog, Discover, and subscribe to
receive the latest content directly into your inbox.
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/a-new-moon-rises-silverseas-silver-moon-undergoes-sea-trials-301119701.html
SOURCE Silversea Cruises