MSC Cruises Details Results of World’s First Net Zero Cruise

MSC Cruises Details Results of World’s First Net Zero Cruise

MSC Cruises has shared details of the world’s first net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions cruise operated in June by its newest ship, the LNG-powered MSC Euribia.

The four-day voyage from Saint-Nazaire in France to Copenhagen in Denmark resulted in a saving of 43 tons of fuel, the company said, and enabled the ship to perform 11 per cent better than the vessel’s digital twin – an ashore virtual ship that reproduced the optimum energy flow and mirrored the fuel utilization onboard.

This was thanks to various optimization and energy efficiency measures, including optimal speed profiles, routing, trim and engine configuration and strict management of the hotel`s energy consumption, according to a press release. 

All the required heat for galleys, heating and ventilation systems as well as production of hot water onboard was recovered from the ship’s engines, which eliminated the need to use the boilers during the voyage.

The ship used bio-LNG as a fuel, which is the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly method recognized under the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive known as RED II.  Each batch of bio-LNG produced was certified by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification.

Linden Coppell, vice president of sustainability and ESG at MSC Cruises, said: “The MSC Euribia’s pioneering voyage was a significant achievement and proved that net zero GHG emissions cruising is possible today and well ahead of the 2050 target for the industry.  We are eager for the appropriate regulatory and financial incentives for fuel producers to provide the fuels needed, at the scale that is needed, which, alongside technology, will power the industry’s journey towards decarbonization.”

MSC Cruises said will use the data collected during MSC Euribia’s net zero emissions sailing to drive down further the emissions intensity across the fleet.

MSC Euribia completes sea trials ahead of launch in June

MSC Cruises’ upcoming ship MSC Euribia has successfully completed its four-day sea trial in the Atlantic Ocean. 

The cruise line tested the performance of the ship’s four LNG-powered engines, manoeuvrability, fuel consumption, safety systems, speed and stopping distances. 

MSC Euribia is now undergoing finishing touches at Chantiers de l’Atlantique’s shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, before its naming ceremony on 8 June in Copenhagen, Denmark. It will then embark on its maiden season in Northern Europe from its homeport in Kiel, Germany. 

The ship, which is the 22nd to join the MSC Cruises fleet, will accommodate up to 6,327 passengers and will host seven different live productions per week to entertain guests. 

The LNG-powered vessel will feature shore power plug-in connectivity to reduce carbon emissions in port as well as advanced wastewater treatment, recycling and underwater noise management systems to protect marine life. 

MSC Cruises’ commitment to sustainability will also be reflected on the ship's exterior via a fresco designed and painted by German graphic artist Alex Flaemig.  

MSC Growth Plans: 12 More Cruise Ships for 2 Brands

MSC Growth Plans: 12 More Cruise Ships for 2 Brands

MSC Group has ambitious plans to continue growing cruise capacity, with six more ships for its MSC Cruises brand set to be delivered over the next five years, plus another six ships for new luxury brand Explora Journeys, according to the new Global Cruise Ship Index.

Next up for the MSC  Cruises will be the Seascape, joining the brand from Fincantieri later this year ahead of its New York christening. That will be followed by the World Europa, which will be the company's first LNG-powered cruise ship, and will debut this winter in the Middle East following her delivery from Chantiers de l'Atlantique.

MSC Upcoming Newbuilds:

Cruise Line	Ship	Tonnage	Year Built	Passengers	Yard
MSC	MSC Seascape	169,380	2022	4,560	Fincantieri
MSC	MSC World Europa	205,700	2022	5,400	Chantiers de l'Atlantique
MSC	MSC Euribia	177,100	2023	4,888	Chantiers de l'Atlantique
MSC	Unnamed	205,700	2024	5,400	Chantiers de l'Atlantique
MSC	Unnamed	205,700	2025	5,400	Chantiers de l'Atlantique
MSC	Unnamed	205,700	2027	5,400	Chantiers de l'Atlantique

The Explora Journeys brand will see dramatic growth in the luxury sector, going from one ship to six ships between 2023 and 2028. The company recently announced that ships three and four will run on LNG, while ships five and six will get a new-generation powerplant that will enable the vessels to burn liquid hydrogen.

Explora Journeys Upcoming Newbuilds:

Cruise Line	Ship	Tonnage	Year Built	Passengers	Yard
Explora Journeys	Explora I	64,000	2023	922	Fincantieri
Explora Journeys	Explora II	64,000	2024	922	Fincantieri
Explora Journeys	Explora III	70,000	2026	922	Fincantieri
Explora Journeys	Explora V	70,000	2027	922	Fincantieri
Explora Journeys	Explora IV	70,000	2027	922	Fincantieri
Explora Journeys	Explora VI	70,000	2028	922	Fincantieri

MSC Cruises Flexes Environmental Commitment with Green Tech

2021 will see two new MSC Cruises vessels enter the market, the MSC Virtuosa and MSC Seashore, and both ships will be equipped with a wide range of the latest-generation environmental technologies and equipment, according to the cruise line. 

Both newbuilds will feature hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) and selective catalytic reduction systems (SCR), achieving a 98% reduction of sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions and reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 90%.

Their wastewater treatment systems have been designed in line with the International Maritime Organization’s MEPC 227(64) Resolution and achieve purification standards that are higher than most wastewater treatment facilities ashore, MSC announced, in a press release. 

As all MSC Cruises’ newbuilds, they will also be equipped with shore power, allowing them to connect to local power grids where infrastructure is available.

Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman said: “Our long-term goal is to achieve a zero-impact cruise operation and this is the journey we are on today. As we work with our partners to identify new technologies that will bring us closer to this goal with each new ship that we build and bring into service, we continue to equip our ships with the latest and most effective technologies in the market.”

In addition, MSC has also announced that it is partnering with several industry players in a research project that promotes low-carbon shipping by combining progressive energy technologies and innovative ship design. Led by the University of Vaasa, the CHEK Consortium – deCarbonising sHipping by enabling Key Technology symbiosis on real vessels concept designs project – involves, in addition to MSC Cruises, the World Maritime University, Wärtsilä, Cargill, Lloyds Register, Silverstream Technologies, Hasytec, Deltamarin, Climeon and BAR Technologies.

The consortium is in line to receive significant funding from Horizon 2020 – the European Union's framework programme for research and innovation.

According to MSC, the project will seek to demonstrate the synergistic benefits of innovative technologies including hydrogen propulsion, ultrasound antifouling, hull air-lubrication, waste to energy systems and digitalized optimization software, fully integrated to maximize efficiency across all aspects of ship operation. 

Looking ahead, in 2022 MSC World Europa, the company’s first LNG-powered vessel will be delivered.

The first LNG ship for MSC will also get a 50-kilowatt, LNG-powered solid oxide fuel cell technology project that offers a potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a further 25% compared to a conventional LNG engine.

Linden Coppell, MSC Cruises’ Director of Sustainability, noted: “Every new ship that joins our fleet incorporates solutions to minimise our environmental footprint. MSC Virtuosa and MSC Seashore will be no exception. As new technologies are identified, we also work to improve the existing fleet, investigating retrofit opportunities, incorporating new energy reduction measures, working extensively with industry experts and seeking out drop-in alternative fuels to achieve the ambitious carbon intensity reduction goals of our industry.”

Brittany Ferries launches first LNG-powered ferry to serve the UK

Salamanca, the newest LNG-powered addition to Brittany Ferries’ fleet took to the water for the first time on 6 January 2021 at China Merchants Jinling shipyard in Weihai, China, where it is under construction.

The second of three E-Flexer-class ships ordered by Brittany Ferries, 42,000-gt Salamanca will join sister ship Galicia which entered service in December 2020. The 215-m vessel will serve a long-distance route connecting the UK with Spain and will carry 1,015 passengers, with over 2.7 km of lane-space to house passenger and freight vehicles.

Salamanca features two Wärtsilä 12V46DF engines generating 13,740 kW each. Electricity production onboard comes with low CO₂ emissions and alternators installed on shaft lines produce energy even at low speeds.

All the E-Flexer vessels have been designed with a view to improving the environmental impact and improving efficiency with particular attention given to fuel-efficient propulsion plants and a long, slender hull and bow design. The underwater hull features a friction-reducing silicon paint coating which further reduces fuel consumption while the propeller and rudder design bring improved manoeuvrability.

Bow thrusters work in harmony with articulated rudders, making it possible to facilitate tight turns in the harbour and the system dispenses with the need for stern thrusters. Fin stabilisers minimise roll and reduce vibration.

The newbuild is part of the ferry operator’s fleet renewal strategy as part of a larger five-year recovery plan. While Brittany Ferries said the investment in new ships was made well before the Covid-19 pandemic began, the strategy is expected to help future-proof services by ensuring the continuity of passenger and freight services with a trio of cleaner, more efficient and comfortable vessels.

President Jean-Marc Roué said “In spite of Brexit and Covid which have cost our company several hundred million euros already, I am resolved to remain on our path towards eco-responsibility and energy transition. It is a formal commitment I’ve made: we will continue, despite these crises, to reduce our carbon footprint, to keep on improving our fleet and to contribute to the development of the regions we serve. Salamanca is a good illustration of this. By renewing our fleet today, we are ensuring a return to growth tomorrow and Brittany Ferries and our partners remain confident in the future.”

The facilities for storing LNG will be supplied by Repsol in Spain. Under the terms of the agreement, the fuel company will build two quayside LNG bunkering terminals in the ports of Santander and Bilbao, including a 1,000-m³ storage tank to ensure uninterrupted supply for Salamanca and a future vessel Santoña.

“Passengers expect more comfortable, cleaner, greener vessels and society rightly demands sustainability as a standard. Shipping companies that fail to improve are therefore destined to fail,” said Brittany Ferries chief executive Christophe Mathieu.

“It’s why these E-Flexer ships are so important as we look to emerge from the current crisis. Galicia, Salamanca and Santoña are clear evidence that we are determined to sail towards a sustainable and a successful future.”

Salamanca will join the above mentioned Galicia in 2022 and the third LNG ferry Santoña will follow in 2023.