MSC Group’s luxury cruise brand Explora Journeys will build two more luxury cruise ships at Fincantieri following a memorandum signed between both parties
The order brings Explora’s fleet to six vessels. The first of its four hydrogen-powered ships is set to sail next year.
Explora V and VI will feature a new generation of LNG engines that will address methane slip and will be equipped with a containment system for liquid hydrogen. Hydrogen fuel will power a 6-MW fuel cell to produce emissions-free power for the hotel operation and allow the vessels to run on zero emissions in port, with the engines turned off.
Additionally, Explora Journeys said the previously announced vessels Explora III and IV will now be powered by LNG. Both ships will be enlarged by 19 m to enable the installation of a new-generation system based on LNG and hydrogen.
The new orders take the line’s fleet investment to €3.50Bn (US$3.54Bn), which includes the additional €120.0M (US$121.4M) per ship for fitting Explora III and IV with LNG engines, a change that required a temporary halt of work due to the significant redesign of the ships, which will now be delivered in 2026 and 2027.
Explora Journeys chief executive Michael Ungerer said, “These bold moves to amend our construction plans, making a significant additional investment in current orders and confirming orders for two more vessels with new technology despite the economic environment, is something only a family company can do. This also demonstrates our commitment to operate ships that will appeal and attract the next and future generations of luxury travellers.”
Fincantieri chief executive Pierroberto Folgiero said, “This is the very first major agreement for new construction after the pandemic emergency and testifies not only to the further growth of our long-standing partnership with MSC, but also the confidence of both groups in the future of the cruise industry. These ships will allow us to implement cutting-edge technologies aimed at significantly improving environmental performance, laying the foundations for further developments”.
Explora V and VI are expected to come into service in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
