Classification
- Incident Type: Collision
- Severity: Low
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | MSC Orchestra |
| Vessel Type | Cruise |
| Flag State | Panama [PA] |
| IMO Number | 9320099 |
| Gross Tonnage | 92409 |
| LOA (m) | 294 |
| Year Built | 2007 |
| Operator | MSC Cruises |
| Passenger Capacity | 3200 |
| Crew Size | 987 |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2019-02-20 |
| Location | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Region | Other |
| Coordinates | -22.9110, -43.2094 |
| Fatalities | |
| Injuries | |
| Missing | |
| Outcome | Both cruise ships sustained minor damage, including damage to a fold-out platform on MSC Poesia's port bow. |
| Direct Damage | |
| Estimated Economic Damage |
Key facts
- MSC Orchestra was under way leaving Buenos Aires when it contacted MSC Poesia.
- MSC Poesia was reported as berthed or in the process of berthing.
- MSC Orchestra's starboard side contacted the port side of MSC Poesia.
- Both ships sustained minor damage; the reported damage included MSC Poesia's port-bow fold-out platform.
- MSC Orchestra was cleared to continue after several hours of investigation and reached the Punta del Este anchorage on 21 February 2019.
Narrative
On 20 February 2019, the cruise ship MSC Orchestra was leaving Buenos Aires when its starboard side contacted the port side of MSC Poesia. The Maritime Bulletin report described MSC Poesia as berthed or in the process of berthing. It reported minor damage to both ships, including damage to a fold-out platform on MSC Poesia's port bow. The available report does not state whether anyone was killed, injured, or missing, and it does not identify a cause of the contact.
The article said MSC Orchestra was cleared to sail after an investigation that appeared to last several hours. It reached the Punta del Este resort anchorage, Maldonado, Uruguay, on 21 February, while MSC Poesia was still in Buenos Aires at 18:30 UTC that day. The article identified both vessels as Panama-flagged MSC Cruises ships. It listed MSC Orchestra as IMO 9320099, 92,409 gross tonnage, built in 2007, with capacity for 3,200 passengers and a crew of 987. MSC Poesia was listed as IMO 9387073, 92,627 gross tonnage, built in 2008, with capacity for 3,605 passengers and a crew of 1,027.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2019-02-20 | MSC Orchestra, leaving Buenos Aires, contacted MSC Poesia, which was berthed or in the process of berthing. |
| 2019-02-20 | After an investigation that appeared to last several hours, MSC Orchestra was cleared to sail. |
| 2019-02-21 | MSC Orchestra reached the Punta del Este resort anchorage; MSC Poesia remained in Buenos Aires as of 18:30 UTC. |
Investigation
The available Maritime Bulletin article says MSC Orchestra was cleared to sail after an investigation that appeared to last several hours. It does not identify the investigating body, publish findings on the cause of the contact, or provide casualty information. A stronger official investigation source was not identified in the reviewed local material.
References
- Source note: MSC cruise ships collided in Buenos Aires
- Maritime Bulletin: MSC cruise ships collided in Buenos Aires