The MSC Euribia, MSC Cruises' new flagship, will sail for four days from Saint-Nazaire to Copenhagen, emitting net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and demonstrating that net-zero cruising is possible today. The MSC Euribia will depart from the French port on June 3 and is scheduled to arrive in the Danish capital on June 7.
Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of MSC Cruises, said: “This first net-zero emissions voyage of our latest flagship, MSC Euribia, represents another significant step in our journey towards decarbonization and demonstrates the extent of our commitment.
MSC Cruises has purchased 400 tons of bio-LNG to demonstrate its commitment to deploying drop-in renewable fuels and implementing energy transition measures toward net-zero gas emissions. MSC Cruises is thus the first cruise line to acquire bio-LNG as a fuel source with a significant emissions reduction lifecycle.
The CEO adds: “This is not something we can do alone. Our purchase of bio-LNG will send a clear and significant signal to the market that there is a demand for cleaner fuels from cruise lines and the maritime industry in general, but we need governments, producers, and end users to collaborate and increase the availability of these new and much-needed energy sources.
The net-zero navigation will utilize bio-LNG through a mass balance system, the most environmentally efficient method for harnessing the benefits of renewable biogas. The entire supply chain will fully comply with the European Union's Renewable Energy Directive, commonly known as RED II, and every single batch of the total bio-LNG produced has been certified by the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification.
Michele Francioni, Senior Vice President of MSC Cruises, added: “MSC Euribia’s maiden voyage will allow us to demonstrate that we have the capability to operate on a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions basis with existing ship technology.”
“This is just the beginning. We are committed to this transition and doing everything we can to facilitate it,” Francioni continued.
MSC Cruises has the support of the Nordic energy company Gasum for the net zero greenhouse gas emissions voyage, a leading producer of biogas and processor of biodegradable waste fractions in the Nordic region.
Energy efficiency specialists from both MSC Cruises and the ship's builder, Chantiers de L'Atlantique, will be on board this first zero-emissions voyage to monitor and optimize all aspects of this trip, working with the ship's captain, Stefano Battinelli, and the chief engineer of MSC Euribia, Pasquale Mastellone.
MSC Cruises' new ships are fuel-flexible, capable of running on a variety of renewable fuels, both those currently available and those planned for the future. Using fossil LNG already achieves up to a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional marine fuels, and virtually eliminates all sulfur oxide and particulate emissions, while reducing nitrogen oxides by 85%.
