The MSC World Europa will become the first contemporary cruise ship to incorporate solid oxide fuel cell technology, along with a selective catalytic reduction system and increased shore-to-ship power capacity to accelerate the goal of achieving a net-zero emissions future. With this, the MSC World Europa will become the greenest and most efficient ship in the MSC Cruises fleet when it enters service in October 2022, as well as the world's largest LNG-powered cruise ship.
MSC World Europe's new solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology, powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), is developed by MSC Cruises, Chantiers de l'Atlantique, and Bloom Energy. The ship will feature a 150-kilowatt SOFC demonstrator that will generate auxiliary power to improve efficiency and significantly reduce CO2 emissions compared to traditional internal combustion engines.
Linden Coppell, MSC Cruises' Chief Sustainability Officer, commented: “We are committed to a net-zero emissions 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 to date and will help us test and refine environmental technologies for the future of our fleet. With this project, we are also fostering partnerships with technology providers, energy companies, academic institutions, and regulatory bodies. We must all deepen our collaboration to unlock a net-zero emissions future.”.
MSC World Europa is equipped with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system that reduces NOx emissions by 90% when LNG is unavailable and the ship must operate on marine diesel. Since LNG fuel achieves a similar reduction, MSC World Europa will always comply with the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Tier III NOx emissions standards. Furthermore, ship-to-shore electrical connectivity will allow MSC World Europa to minimize engine use in ports where the necessary infrastructure is available.
As with all new MSC Cruises ships, MSC World Europe will also feature the latest wastewater treatment technology and will be fully aligned with the world's strictest regulatory requirements: the so-called "Baltic Standard".
In addition, MSC World Europa will incorporate a wide range of equipment to optimize energy use throughout the ship.
These efficiency improvements and the use of LNG will allow for significantly higher operational performance than the energy design criteria required by the IMO for new ships. MSC World Europa is designed to operate 47% better than the required Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI).
Finally, the hull and engine room of MSC World Europa have been designed to minimize the acoustic impact of underwater sound, reducing the potential impact on marine mammals in the surrounding waters.
MSC Cruises has three firm orders for LNG-powered ships. After MSC World Europa, MSC Euribia will arrive, scheduled to enter service in 2023. Construction of the third ship is scheduled to begin in early 2023.
