MSC Group and Chantiers de l’Atlantique celebrated the delivery of 215,863-gt MSC World Europa, the world’s largest LNG-powered cruise ship and one of the first to incorporate fuel-cell technology
The name of MSC Cruises’ second World-class ship was also revealed during a steel cutting ceremony. MSC World America will be destined for North America when it comes into service in 2025, becoming the fourth new flagship to be deployed in the region.
MSC Group cruise division executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said, “We are proud to welcome to our fleet MSC World Europa, our 20th ship and the first to be LNG-powered. This groundbreaking vessel represents the next phase in our journey toward net-zero and sustainable cruising and is a symbol of our unwavering commitment to both.
“MSC World Europa represents a major step forward for our Cruise division, the entire MSC Group, and our industry, with a range of unprecedented innovations in terms of environmental and marine technologies, design and guest-centric features. This is the result of more than four years of work between us, builders Chantiers de l’Atlantique and numerous leading providers of next-generation environmental and maritime technologies and solutions as well as many thousands of hours of training for those on board and at ports.
“Now, more than ever, we need closer co-operation from suppliers, governments and others to complement our continued investments and take further steps towards the zero-emissions future we all desire. The innovative technologies we create here to use on our vessels can benefit all of society, not just the cruise industry or the shipping sector.”
Chantiers de l’Atlantique general manager Laurent Castaing said, “From a technological standpoint, MSC World Europa, which is equipped with an LNG propulsion system, presents a new level of performance and efficiency of the cruise industry. This represents a major milestone in minimising emissions, as MSC World Europa is the least emitting ship in the entire cruise industry.”
MSC Cruises vice president of sustainability and ESG Linden Coppell said, “We anticipate fuel cells will reduce emissions of greenhouse gases substantially compared with a conventional LNG engine without producing emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides or fine particles. It also has the advantage of not only being compatible with LNG, but also with low and zero-carbon fuels such as green methanol, ammonia and hydrogen. We could also transition to synthetic LNG or other alternative non-carbon fuels.
“We chose LNG as it is the cleanest marine fuel currently available at scale, a transitional fuel as we look ahead to source and use synthetic LNG or other alternative non-carbon fuels as soon as they become available at scale.”
