MSC Euribia, the new flagship of MSC Cruises, will sail the world’s first net-zero greenhouse gas emissions cruise next week. The twenty-second ship of the third largest cruise brand in the world, which will be launched on May 31 in Saint-Nazaire, will leave the French port on June 3 to reach Copenhagen on June 7 and then be christened on June 8 in Denmark.
During her first voyage, MSC Euribia will sail using liquefied biogas as fuel to demonstrate that it is already possible to sail with zero emissions today.
The cruise company has in fact purchased 400 tons of bio-LNG (liquefied natural gas) as part of its environmental strategy which provides for an increasingly consistent use of drop-in renewable fuels and measures for the energy transition.
MSC Cruises is the first company in the cruise industry to purchase bio-LNG which guarantees a significant reduction in emissions over the entire life cycle.
The net-zero emissions journey will use bio-LNG with a mass balance system, which is the most economical and environmentally efficient method of obtaining the benefits of renewable biogas. The entire supply chain will be fully compliant with the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) and every single batch of bio-LNG produced has been certified by the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC).
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of the Cruise Division of the MSC Group, said: “This net-zero emissions cruise, the first in the entire cruise industry, testifies to another significant step in our decarbonization journey and demonstrates in the strongest possible way that we are serious about our commitment to sustainability. However, we cannot achieve these goals alone Given the sheer importance of alternative fuels to our industry, and other sectors of society, in order to decarbonize, we must all work together to increase the large-scale availability of alternative fuels.
Our purchase of bio-LNG represents a clear signal to the market that there is a demand from cruise lines and the shipping industry for cleaner fuels, but it needs to govern, producers and end-users collaborate and increase the availability of much-needed fuels and new energy sources”.
MSC Cruises’ new ships are fuel flexible and able to run on a variety of renewable fuels available now, and expected in the future. The use of fossil LNG already makes it possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20% compared to conventional marine fuels, as well as to eliminate practically all sulfur oxide and particulate emissions, also reducing those of nitrogen oxides from the ‘85%.
Michele Francioni, MSC Cruises Senior Vice President, added: “The first voyage of MSC Euribia represents an incredible undertaking and crowns years of commitment and determination. It should demonstrate that we have the capabilities to operate at net zero greenhouse gas emissions with the technology already present on today’s ships. And this is just the beginning. We are in fact seriously committed to this energy transition path, but to achieve the objectives it is essential that alternative fuels, such as bio LNG, e-LNG, green hydrogen, and green methanol, are made widely available to realize the vision of net-zero emissions cruising.”
The speed and itinerary of MSC Euribia’s maiden voyage have been specifically designed to optimize engine configuration and loads, as well as to minimize fuel consumption. Dedicated energy efficiency specialists from both MSC Cruises and the ship’s builder, Chantiers de L’Atlantique, will be on board to monitor and optimize every aspect of this voyage. They will work with the ship’s Captain, Stefano Batinelli, and MSC Euribia’s chief engineer, Pasquale Mastellone.
MSC Cruises’ energy efficiency experts will continuously monitor and optimize all onboard systems from the ground to minimize energy demand, identifying further opportunities to improve energy efficiency in real-time, while maintaining a high level of comfort for all guests on board. Numerous measures will be taken in this regard, ranging from the configuration of the engines to the speed of the air conditioning fans on the ship, as well as optimization of the route and speed. Such initiatives will save energy to reduce fuel consumption.
For this net-zero emissions voyage, MSC Cruises has partnered with the Finnish energy company Gasum, a leader in the production of biogas and the treatment of biodegradable waste.
MSC Cruises offers its guests an enriching, immersive, and safe cruising experience, inspired by the Company’s European heritage, where they can enjoy international cuisine, world-class entertainment, award-winning family programs, and the latest user-friendly technology on board. To learn more about the contemporary brand’s itineraries and experience onboard its ships, see here.