MSC Cruises, theGeneva-based cruise company that ranks fourth in size in terms of lower berths,may have acquired a newbuilding that wasdue to be delivered to Libya before theevents of last year, a media report says.

“Photos havearrived online suggesting that MSC has purchased the former Libyan cruise shipas MSC Preziosa,” says a report on crociere.uk.worldpress.com.

The 137,000gross ton ship is the same class as the soon to be launched MSC Divina andsister ships MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida. Previously known as Phoenicia andordered by the General National Maritime Transport Company (GNMTC) of Libyabefore the collapse of Gaddafi’s regime, the shipping line defaulted on itspayment schedule, and STX has been looking for a buyer since. 

Cruise Business Online has been unable to obtain a comment from MSC Cruises regarding the report.