Explora Journeys has celebrated dual maritime milestones at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard in Italy – the float out of EXPLORA II and the steel cutting of EXPLORA III, representing the second and third ships out of a total of four firm orders by Explora Journeys.
The event comes just two months after the delivery of EXPLORA I, which took place in Monfalcone on 20 July 2023.
Michael Ungerer, Chief Executive Officer, Explora Journeys, said: “The double event today marks another major step forward on our mission to redefine ocean travel for today’s discerning luxury travellers.”
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“Following the successful launch of EXPLORA I and the incredibly positive feedback from the first guests, travel advisors and media, who had a chance to experience the Ocean State of Mind, the story continues, and we are now beyond thrilled to witness the next important construction milestones for both EXPLORA II and our first LNG powered ship, EXPLORA III.
“We are proud that our four ships are built by Fincantieri, further underlining our commitment to Italy.”
EXPLORA II will enter service in the northern hemisphere summer 2024 and construction of the 63,900 gross tonne vessel began in October 2021 at Fincantieri’s Castellammare di Stabia yard in Naples, Italy where the ship’s keel was laid in May 2022.
The ceremony was attended by the main Ligurian and Genoese authorities, including the President of the Liguria Region Giovanni Toti and the Mayor of Genoa Marco Bucci. On behalf of the shipowner, Michael Ungerer, Chief Executive Officer of Explora Journeys, and Leonardo Massa, Managing Director Explora Journeys & MSC Cruises for Italy, attended the event.
Doing the honours for Fincantieri, the shipbuilding company, were the CEO and General Manager, Pierroberto Folgiero, and the General Manager of the Merchant Ships Division, Luigi Matarazzo.
EXPLORA II will embark on her maiden journey in the summer of 2024, spending her first season in the Mediterranean.
With the traditional steel cutting ceremony, the brand marked a celebration of the construction of EXPLORA III, which will enter service in summer 2026 and will be the first of the Explora fleet to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) – the world’s cleanest maritime fuel available at scale, playing a key role towards the decarbonisation of international shipping.
LNG can almost completely eliminate emissions such as sulphur oxides (99%) and nitrogen oxides (85%). LNG also plays a key role in climate change mitigation as it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20% and will enable a pathway to the use of additional sustainable non-fossil fuels, such as bio and synthetic forms of LNG.
All of the Explora Journeys vessels will be equipped with the latest environmental and marine technologies, including selective catalytic reduction technology, shore power plug-in connectivity, underwater noise management systems to help protect marine life, and a comprehensive range of onboard energy efficient equipment to optimise engine use to further reduce emissions.
In January 2024, construction will begin on EXPLORA IV, also fuelled by LNG, which will be completed in early 2027.
Previously flagged ships, EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI remain in the pipeline as options, Ungerer confirmed to LATTE at Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas last month.