MSC Group has accepted delivery of its newest ship from the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard, MSC World Europa, during a ceremony in Saint Nazaire, France.
MSC World Europa is the world’s largest LNG-powered cruise ship and one of the first to incorporate fuel cell technology. On top of immediate ground-breaking advances in terms of reduction of emissions and energy efficiency, MSC World Europa also paves the way towards the uptake of carbon-neutral synthetic and other alternative fuels as soon as they are available at scale.
MSC World Europa is the first from the trail-blazing World Class ships from MSC Cruises. She is an ultramodern urban metropolis at sea that represents the future of cruising and offers a world of different experiences pushing the boundaries of what is possible at sea – setting a new standard for the cruise industry.
Subscribe to LATTE Cruise’s free eNewsletter to keep up to date with everything in the luxury cruise space.
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of the Cruise Division of MSC Group, 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 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 onboard and at ports.”
“Now more than ever we need closer cooperation from suppliers, Governments and others to complement our continued investments and take further steps towards the zero emissions future we all desire,” Vago added.
The first cruise ship to feature fuel cell technology powered by LNG
MSC World Europa is the world’s first contemporary cruise ship to feature brand-new solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). The ship will include a 150-kilowatt SOFC demonstrator that will use LNG to produce electricity and heat on board in a highly efficient way by means of an electrochemical reaction. It will be a testbed to accelerate the development of fuel cell technology for contemporary cruise ships and offers a potential to enable hybrid propulsion solutions in the future.
Linden Coppell, Vice President of Sustainability & ESG at MSC Cruises said: “We anticipate SOFC will reduce emissions of greenhouse gases substantially compared with 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 in the future transition to synthetic LNG or other alternative non-carbon fuels,” he said.
LNG: a transitional fuel and the cleanest currently available at scale
“We chose LNG for the very clear reason that 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”, said Pierfrancesco Vago.
Compared to standard marine fuels, LNG nearly eliminates air pollutant emissions, including sulphur oxides and fine particles, greatly reduces nitrogen oxides, and already achieves a CO2 reduction of up to 25%. LNG will also enable the development of low-carbon fuels and solutions such as green hydrogen, synthetic-LNG, and fuel cells.
Next-generation cruise experience
Boasting future-proof marine and onboard hospitality technologies, MSC World Europa will redefine the cruise experience with a variety of never-before-seen concepts and creative areas unlike anything at sea today. The ground-breaking design features a Y-shaped aft structure that leads to the impressive 104-metre-long half-open half-covered Europa Promenade with breath-taking ocean views.
Brand new balcony cabins overlook the stunning promenade, which features a striking architectural centrepiece in the form of The Venom Drop @ The Spiral, an 11-deck-high slide, the longest at sea.
MSC World Europa’s ‘firsts’ include a micro-brewery, gin bar, healthy juice bar, coffee emporium and tea-house. The ship has 13 different dining options including two new specialty restaurants,
La Pescaderia that will offer fresh seafood and Chef’s Garden Kitchen will dish up seasonal farm-to-ocean cooking.
Steel cutting ceremony of MSC World America
The name of the second World Class ship was revealed at the ceremony and during the steel cutting ceremony and MSC Cruises announced that MSC World America is destined for North America when she comes into service in 2025.
MSC said the move is further proof of the line’s commitment to deploy its newest ships to this important cruise market and to provide US guests with a ship and guest experience that is tailored to them. MSC World America will become the fourth new flagship to be deployed in this region.
