To coincide with International Artist Day, MSC Cruises is offering creatives and designers from around the world the opportunity to transform the hull of one of its newest ships, MSC Euribia, into a giant floating canvas to communicate the importance of respecting the environment. The ship, which will be the most environmentally advanced in the MSC Cruises fleet to date, is named after the ancient Greek goddess Euribia, who harnessed the winds, weather, and constellations to rule the seas. This reflects the company's vision, which aims for the ship to incorporate cutting-edge sustainable technologies to protect and preserve the precious marine ecosystem.
MSC Cruises is inviting artists from around the world to create a unique work of art, inspired by the sea and its vital ecosystem, which will become a permanent design on the ship's hull as it sails the world's oceans. This design competition is the first of its kind organized by MSC Cruises and demonstrates the company's ongoing commitment to the environment and to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050.
Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of MSC Cruises, stated: “We are a family-owned company with over 300 years of maritime heritage. The sea is our livelihood and our passion. That is why, from our very beginning, we have focused on caring for it for future generations. Today, this means that at MSC Cruises we not only equip our ships with the latest and most advanced technologies and environmental solutions, but we also fund research and invest directly to support the accelerated development of next-generation solutions and adopt innovative technologies to minimize our impact, thereby protecting and preserving our precious marine ecosystems.”
The proposals will be evaluated by a panel of international judges that includes sand artist Jben, known for his large-scale, ephemeral sand murals that drift with the tide, and Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of the MSC Group's cruise division. Jben has traveled the world sculpting so-called 'Beach Art' in the United States, France, Morocco, the Netherlands, and Portugal, raising awareness of marine environmental issues and promoting marine protection and preservation.
“The winning design will be yet another demonstration of our ongoing commitment to ocean protection and achieving net-zero emissions, an ambitious goal we have set for ourselves to reach by 2050 or sooner. And through this competition, MSC Euribia, as it sails the world, will proudly display this important message of our commitment on its hull for all to see,” Mr. Vago added.
Only one winner will have the opportunity to have their artwork displayed on the ship's hull, creating an open-air sailing gallery for everyone to admire. The designs of five other finalists will also be featured in an exhibition on board MSC Euribia, where passengers can view their art and its important message for years to come.
MSC Euribia will enter service in 2023 and become the second LNG-powered ship in the MSC Cruises fleet, marking another step in the substantial reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. LNG plays a key role in the journey towards mitigating climate change, and MSC Euribia's engines have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 21% compared to standard fuels, while also eliminating other air emissions.
As biofuels and synthetic fuels become more available, MSC Euribia's emissions will be further reduced. LNG is also key to the development of sustainable fuels and fuel cell solutions for shipping, as these emerging technologies cannot be operated with traditional fuels. MSC Cruises is actively involved in several projects to develop and make these technologies viable in partnership with regulators, academic institutions, shipyards, and industry. This includes a project to study the use of hydrogen fuel in cruise ships in partnership with Fincantieri and SNAM, as well as a pilot project for the development of solid oxide fuel cell technology for cruise ships.
MSC Euribia will also utilize an advanced next-generation wastewater treatment system, as well as an underwater radiated noise management system to minimize the effects of vibrations on marine life, and multiple energy-efficiency features to help reduce and optimize engine use.
MSC Cruises is committed to powering at least three of its upcoming ships with LNG, representing a total investment of over €3 billion.
