MSC Group's cruise division and Chantiers de l'Atlantique today celebrated the delivery of MSC World Europa, the world's largest LNG-powered cruise ship and one of the first to incorporate fuel cell technology.
In addition to immediate and innovative advances in terms of emissions reduction and energy efficiency, MSC World Europe is also paving the way for the adoption of carbon-neutral synthetic fuels and other alternative fuels as soon as they become available on a large scale.
A joint contribution to the future of cruising
MSC World Europa is the first of the pioneering ships of MSC Cruises' World Class.
Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of MSC Cruises, said: “We are proud to welcome MSC World Europa to our fleet, our twentieth ship and our first powered by LNG. This innovative vessel represents the next phase of our journey towards zero-emission and sustainable cruising, and is a symbol of our unwavering commitment to both.”
MSC World Europe represents a major step forward for our cruise division, the entire MSC Group, and our industry, with a range of unprecedented innovations in environmental and marine technologies, and a passenger-centric design and features. It is the result of more than four years of collaboration between us, the shipbuilders Chantiers de l'Atlantique, and numerous leading suppliers of state-of-the-art environmental and marine technologies and solutions, as well as many thousands of hours of training for those on board and in port.”.
Mr. Vago concluded: “Now more than ever, we need closer cooperation with suppliers, governments, and other entities to complement our ongoing investments and take further steps toward the zero-emission future we all desire. The innovative technologies we create here for use on our ships can benefit all of society, not just the cruise industry or the maritime sector in general.”
Laurent Castaing, CEO of Chantiers de l'Atlantique, said: “We have reached a new stage in the cruise sector with MSC World Europa, the largest ship ever built for a European shipowner. It is equipped with the latest technologies to offer passengers an unprecedented cruise experience. From a technological standpoint, MSC World Europa, which is equipped with a liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion system, represents a new level of performance and efficiency for the cruise industry. This marks a significant milestone in minimizing emissions, as MSC World Europa is the lowest-emitting ship in the entire cruise sector.”
The first cruise ship with LNG-powered fuel cell technology
MSC World Europa is the world's first contemporary cruise ship to incorporate the new solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). The ship will include a 150-kilowatt SOFC demonstrator that will use LNG to produce electricity and heat on board with high efficiency through an electrochemical reaction. It will serve as a testbed to accelerate the development of fuel cell technology for current cruise ships and offers potential for enabling hybrid propulsion solutions in the future.
Linden Coppell, Vice President of Sustainability and ESG at MSC Cruises, stated: “We anticipate that the SOFC will substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to the conventional LNG engine, without producing emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, or particulate matter. Furthermore, it has the advantage of being compatible not only with LNG but also with low- and zero-carbon fuels such as green methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen. In the future, we could also transition to synthetic LNG or other alternative carbon-free fuels.”
LNG: a transitional fuel and the cleanest currently available on a large scale
“We chose LNG for the clear reason that it is the cleanest marine fuel currently available on a large scale, a transitional fuel while we look ahead to obtaining and using synthetic LNG or other carbon-free alternative fuels as soon as they become available on a large scale,” commented Pierfrancesco Vago.
Compared to standard marine fuels, LNG virtually eliminates polluting air emissions, including sulfur oxides and particulate matter, significantly reduces nitrogen oxides, and already achieves CO2 reductions of up to 25%. LNG will also enable the development of low-carbon fuels and solutions, such as green hydrogen, synthetic LNG, and fuel cells.
The core of energy efficiency
In collaboration with the shipyard, MSC World Europa has been designed with an innovative hull shape to minimize water resistance and incorporates a wide range of equipment to optimize energy use throughout the ship. These include intelligent ventilation and advanced air conditioning systems with automated energy recovery loops, enabling efficient distribution of heat and cooling throughout the vessel. The ship also utilizes LED lighting throughout, controlled by intelligent management systems to further enhance energy savings.
It will also be equipped with enhanced automated data collection systems for remote power monitoring and advanced analysis, enabling real-time support on land to optimize onboard operational efficiency.
These efficiency improvements, along with the use of LNG, will allow for operational performance far exceeding the energy design criteria required by the IMO for new ships. MSC World Europe is designed to perform 47% better than the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) required by regulations.
Advanced water treatment and waste management systems, and other innovative features
MSC World Europa is equipped with an advanced wastewater treatment system (AWTS) that meets the world's most stringent regulatory requirements, including the Baltic Standard. It treats all wastewater produced on board to levels approaching those of tap water. The ship also features a state-of-the-art ballast water treatment system that prevents the introduction of invasive species into the marine environment through ballast water discharges, in compliance with the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention.
“We have a whole team within the crew dedicated to applying strict waste management protocols that separate them into seven different types, for example, glass, aluminum and paper, with specialized equipment, to crush or group these types of waste in the ship's waste management facility,” said Linden Coppell.
In addition, MSC World Europa features a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system that reduces NOx emissions by 90% when LNG is unavailable and the ship must run on marine diesel. Since LNG achieves a similar reduction, MSC World Europa will always be ready to comply with the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Tier III NOx emission standards. Like all new MSC Cruises builds, the ship is equipped with shore power capability, minimizing engine use in ports with the necessary infrastructure.
The hull and engine room of MSC World Europa have been designed to minimize underwater noise, reducing the potential impact on marine mammals in the surrounding waters.
Next-generation cruise experience
With future-proof marine technologies on board, MSC World Europa will redefine the cruise experience with a variety of never-before-seen concepts and creative areas unlike anything else at sea today. The innovative design features a Y-shaped stern structure leading to the 104-meter-long, semi-covered promenade with breathtaking sea views. New balcony cabins overlook the promenade, which boasts a striking central architectural feature: the Venom Drop @ The Spiral, an 11-story-high water slide—the tallest at sea.
New features on MSC World Europe include a microbrewery, a gin bar, a juice bar, and a wide variety of bars and cafés. The ship boasts 13 different dining options, including two new specialty restaurants: La Pescaderia, offering fresh seafood, and Chef's Garden Kitchen, serving seasonal farm-to-sea cuisine.
MSC World America Steel Cutting Ceremony
The name of the second World Class ship was revealed today during the steel-cutting ceremony, where MSC Cruises announced that MSC World America will be based in North America when it enters service in 2025. This is further proof of the cruise line's commitment to deploying its newest ships in this important cruise market and to offering American passengers a ship and experience tailored to their needs. MSC World America will become the fourth new flagship to be deployed in this region.
