MSC World Europa will become the greenest and most efficient vessel in MSC Cruises’ fleet when she is delivered in October 2022. Her new innovations and features are sure to set new standards for sustainability. MSC Cruises has released information about the ship’s environmental credentials, including solid oxide fuel cells, a selective catalytic reduction system and enhanced shore-to-ship power capability. She will also be the largest cruise ship in the world powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) when she launches later this year.
MSC World Europa will be the world’s first LNG-powered contemporary cruise vessel to feature new solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology developed by MSC Cruises, Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Bloom Energy. The ship will include a 150-kilowatt SOFC demonstrator that will generate auxiliary power to deliver efficiency gains and significant CO2 emission reductions compared to traditional internal combustion engines. It will be a testbed to accelerate the development of fuel cell technology for contemporary cruise ships and offers the potential to enable hybrid propulsion solutions in the future.
New Standards for Sustainability
“We are committed to a net-zero future, which is why we are investing heavily in the development of low-carbon fuels and solutions that will accelerate the decarbonization of the maritime sector. MSC World Europa will be our most efficient ship yet and help us prove and refine environmental technologies for the future of our fleet. With this project, we are also advancing partnerships with technology suppliers, energy companies, academia, and regulatory bodies. We must all deepen our collaboration to unlock a zero-emissions future.” said, Linden Coppell, Director of Sustainability for MSC Cruises.
LNG Powered
Compared to standard marine fuels, LNG nearly eliminates air pollutant emissions, including sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particles. It also achieves a CO2 emission reduction of up to 25%. In addition, LNG will enable the development of low-carbon fuels and solutions such as green hydrogen, bio-LNG, and fuel cells. Traditional marine fuels cannot support these upcoming solutions.
MSC World Europa features a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system that reduces NOx emissions by 90% when LNG is not available and the ship must run on marine gas oil. LNG fuel achieves a similar reduction, so MSC World Europa will always meet International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) Tier III NOx emissions standards. In addition, shore-to-ship power connectivity allows MSC World Europa to minimize engine use at ports that have the required infrastructure.
Advanced Wastewater Treatment technology
As with all new MSC Cruises’ ships, MSC World Europa features the latest wastewater treatment technology to comply with the most stringent standards of IMO’s MEPC 227(64) Resolution, also known as the Baltic Standard. The ship includes an advanced ballast water treatment system that prevents the introduction of invasive species into the marine environment through ballast water discharges, in compliance with IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention.
Smart Energy Optimization Onboard
MSC World Europa incorporates a wide range of equipment to optimize energy use throughout the ship. This includes smart ventilation and advanced air conditioning systems with automated energy recovery loops, allowing effective distribution of heat and cold across the ship. The ship uses LED lighting controlled by smart management systems to further enhance the energy-saving profile. In partnership with the shipyard, MSC World Europa has been designed with an innovative hull shape to minimize resistance through the water. It will also be fitted with enhanced automatic data collection systems for remote energy monitoring and advanced analysis, allowing real-time shoreside support to optimize operational efficiency on board.
These efficiency advances, and the use of LNG, will enable an operational performance far higher than the IMO-required energy design criteria for new ships. MSC World Europa is designed to perform 47% better than required by the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI).
Marine Wildlife Friendly Design
MSC World Europa’s hull and engine room have been designed to minimize acoustic underwater sound impact, reducing the potential impact on marine mammals in the surrounding waters. MSC Cruises has three firm orders for LNG-powered vessels for delivery between 2022 and 2025, representing an overall investment of more than $3 billion. MSC World Europa will be followed by MSC Euribia, which is also currently under construction in Saint Nazaire and set to enter service in 2023. Construction of the third ship is set to commence in early 2023.
Who is MSC Cruises?
We think you should get to know, MSC Cruises. MSC Cruises is the world’s third-largest cruise brand as well as the leader in Europe, South America, the Gulf region and Southern Africa, with more market share in addition to deployed capacity than any other player. It is also the fastest-growing global cruise brand with a strong presence in the Caribbean, North America and the Far East markets.
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, MSC Cruises is one of the two brands that sit within the Cruises Division of MSC Group, the leading privately held Swiss-based shipping and logistics conglomerate with over 300 years of maritime heritage. MSC Cruises – the contemporary brand – has a modern fleet of 19 vessels combined with a sizeable future global investment portfolio of new vessels. The fleet is projected to grow to 23 cruise ships by 2025, with options for six more vessel orders in place through 2030.
To book a cruise, guests should contact a preferred travel advisor, or visit www.msccruises.com for more information.
