MSC Cruises has completed the installation of a large-scale dragon sculpture aboard MSC World Asia, the third vessel in the cruise line’s World Class series currently under construction at Chantiers de l’Atlantique (fka STX France) in Saint-Nazaire.
The stainless-steel installation measures 39 ft/12 m in length and 11.4 ft/3.5 m in width and is suspended 32 ft/9.8 m above the Outdoor World Promenade.
Designed by Balich Wonder Studio, the structure incorporates almost 700 mirrors, 1312 ft/400 m of integrated strip lighting and 3000+ LED light points.
The sculpture is intended to serve as a defining visual feature of MSC World Asia and forms part of the ship’s broader design concept, which combines European influences with elements drawn from destinations and cultures around the world.
Marco Balich, chairman of Balich Wonder Studio, described the dragon as a central symbol of the ship’s identity, combining design, engineering and lighting to create a distinctive feature within the outdoor promenade.
MSC World Asia is scheduled to enter service on December 4th, when it will begin 7-night Mediterranean cruises calling at Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia/Rome, Messina, Sicily and Valletta, Malta.