Milestones have been celebrated at Fincantieri for three of MSC’s fleet of six Explora Journeys’ cruise ships
At Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard, three major ceremonies have taken place: Explora III’s launch, Explora IV’s coin ceremony, and Explora V’s steel cutting.
Comprised of six vessels – with the first two, Explora I and Explora II, already in service – the luxury brand’s fleet, entirely built by Fincantieri, will be fully operational within three years. Explora III will be christened next year, Explora IV and Explora V are scheduled for delivery in 2027, while Explora VI will take to the sea in 2028.
MSC Group passenger division executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago stated, “Today, we are celebrating a triple milestone in the growth journey of Explora Journeys, our brand dedicated to the luxury segment, whose fleet will be fully operational within three years with all six vessels. Sustainability remains a top priority for our company, and these ships — thanks to the innovative solutions and technologies implemented on board — play a crucial role in our decarbonisation journey.”
Fincantieri Merchant Ships Division general manager Luigi Matarazzo said, “We are proud to support the MSC Group on this journey. Five of the six ships in the class are being built here in Sestri Ponente, a strategic asset in our production system and a symbol of an industrial vision focused on modern shipyards, green technologies, and highly complex processes.”
MSC Group’s investment for the six Explora Journeys ships, with five of them built at Sestri Ponente, amounts to approximately US$4Bn. A statement said, “This investment generates significant economic, technological, and employment benefits in Italy, estimated at over US$17Bn thanks also to a predominantly Italian supply chain characterised by a strong presence of SMEs. In addition to these benefits, there is a significant tourism impact in the many ports visited by the vessels.”
Founded with the goal of ‘redefining’ luxury ocean travel, the Explora Journeys brand is experiencing growing success in markets worldwide.
All vessels are equipped with cold ironing systems, allowing them to connect to power on shore and eliminate emissions while docked, as well as advanced selective catalytic reduction systems, underwater noise management devices to protect marine life, and a full range of high-efficiency onboard equipment designed to optimise engine performance.
The last four ships will also be powered by LNG, and will be equipped to use renewable fuels such as bioLNG and synthetic LNG. Explora V and Explora VI also offer the possibility of using innovative technologies such as fuel cells, which convert LNG into hydrogen, further reducing emissions.
