MSC Cruises marked the official start of construction today and revealed the name of MSC Cruises’ most environmentally-advanced ship to-date, MSC Euribia, when the first steel was cut at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint Nazaire, France. Set to come into service in June 2023, MSC Euribia will become the 22nd vessel in the MSC Cruises fleet and the second to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG), the cleanest marine fuel available at scale today. As with every ship that joins MSC Cruises’ fleet, she will be equipped with some of the latest and most advanced technologies and solutions to minimize her environmental impact. The beginning of construction of MSC Euribia marks another milestone in the Company’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
The traditional steel cutting ceremony for MSC Euribia was held in Saint Nazaire, France bringing the ship owner and shipyard together. As maritime custom dictates, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago joined Chantiers de l’Atlantique’s General Manager Laurent Castaing to launch the cutting of the first steel for the new ship and, with it, the next step in MSC Cruises’ journey towards zero-impact operations.
“As a family with over 300 years of seafaring heritage, we always seek to protect the environment to safeguard our way of life and protect the planet for future generations. With our first LNG-powered vessel already under construction, MSC Euribia will further reduce emissions using the latest available technology. She will be one of the world’s most environmentally high-performing contemporary vessels.” said Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman said
LNG is by far the cleanest marine fuel currently available at scale and it virtually eliminates local air pollutant emissions like sulphur oxides (99%), nitrogen oxides (85%) and particles (98%).
In terms of emissions with a global impact, LNG plays a key role in climate change mitigation and MSC Euribia’s engines have the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 25% compared to standard fuels. In addition, with the subsequent availability of Bio and Synthetic forms of LNG, this energy source will provide a pathway toward eventual decarbonized operations.
LNG is also key to the development of fuel cell solutions for shipping as these technologies cannot be operated with traditional fuels. MSC Cruises, Chantiers de l’Atlantique and a consortium of leading energy and technology companies are working on the development of a pilot LNG-powered solid oxide fuel cell technology for cruise ships that could achieve a further significant greenhouse gas emissions reduction due to the higher efficiency of this technology.
MSC Cruises is committed to powering at least three upcoming ships with LNG, representing a total investment exceeding EUR 3 billion (≈ $3.6 billion USD). The first of these, MSC World Europa is currently under construction in Saint Nazaire and set to enter service in October 2022. Construction of the third ship is set to commence in early 2023.
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