MSC AND CHANTIERS DE L’ATLANTIQUE CELEBRATE MILESTONES FOR TWO LNG-POWERED NEWBUILDS

• MSC Cruises’ first LNG-powered vessel, MSC World Europa, completes first set of sea trials
• Line’s second LNG ship, MSC Euribia, floats out

Saint-Nazaire, France – June 20, 2022 – The Cruise Division of MSC Group and Chantiers de l’Atlantique celebrated two important milestones over the weekend for MSC Cruises’ first two liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels, both under construction in Saint-Nazaire, France.

MSC World Europa completed her first set of sea trials in the Atlantic Ocean. The tests included measuring the performance of the ship’s engines, along with assessing its maneuverability, fuel consumption, safety systems, speed and stopping distances. MSC World Europa will be the first LNG vessel to join the cruise line’s fleet in November 2022 and is set to become the largest LNG-powered cruise ship in the world. 

Meanwhile, MSC Euribia was floated out and moved to a wet dock for work to continue on the ship before she joins MSC Cruises’ fleet in June 2023.

MSC has invested more than $3.14 billion in three LNG-powered cruise ships. The construction of the third ship – ‘World Class II’ – will begin at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique yard early next year.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division of MSC Group, said: “We made an important pledge last year to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, leading the cruise industry on the path to decarbonization. MSC World Europa and MSC Euribia will play a fundamental role in this journey.

“LNG is the cleanest marine fuel currently available at scale that reduces emissions significantly and offers compatibility with future alternative fuel solutions. We are actively investing in research and development regarding LNG, including a pilot LNG-powered solid oxide fuel cell onboard MSC World Europa. If bio or synthetic LNG was available at scale today, both our newbuilds could operate with net zero emissions from the very first day.”

MSC World Europa – next-generation cruise experience

MSC World Europa is the first in the trailblazing MSC World Class – a brand new class of ships that will introduce a completely new cruising platform and accommodate up to 6,762 passengers.

MSC World Europa will incorporate future-proof marine and onboard hospitality technologies, redefining the cruise experience with a variety of new concepts and creative areas unlike anything at sea today. The ground-breaking design features a Y-shaped aft that leads to the impressive 341-foot long, open-air Europa Promenade with breathtaking ocean views. Brand new balcony cabins overlook the stunning space, which features a striking architectural centerpiece in the form of The Venom Drop @ The Spiral, an 11-deck-high dry slide set to be the longest at sea.

MSC World Europa will debut in the Arabian Sea for winter 2022/23. MSC Cruises is deploying more capacity in the Middle East than ever, aiming to strengthen its position as the region’s market leader for vacations at sea. The ship will offer 7-night voyages between December 2022 and March 2023 from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and Sir Bani Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates, Dammam in Saudi Arabia, and Doha in Qatar before returning to Dubai.

In March 2023, the ship will head to the Mediterranean Sea and sail 7-night cruises calling at the Italian ports of Genoa, Naples and Messina; Valletta in Malta; Barcelona in Spain; and Marseille in France.

For details on MSC World Europa’s itineraries, click here.

MSC Euribia – symbol of MSC Cruises’ respect for the oceans

MSC Euribia will become one of the most environmentally advanced ships in MSC Cruises’ fleet and is named afterthe ancient goddess Eurybia, who harnessed the winds, weather and constellations to master the seas. The ship will have a noticeably different look than others in MSC Cruises’ fleet thanks to exclusive artwork that transforms her hull into a giant, floating canvas to communicate the importance of sustainability and the Company’s commitment to the sea.

Starting in June 2023, MSC Euribia will spend her inaugural season in Northern Europe sailing from the German port of Kiel. Her 7-night itineraries to the Norwegian fjords include calls at Copenhagen, Denmark; Hellesylt, Norway for the Geirangerfjord; Alesund and Flam, also in Norway; and other destinations.

For details on MSC Euribia’s itineraries, click here.

MSC World Europa and MSC Euribia – environmentally advanced

Both MSC World Europa and MSC Euribia will be powered by LNG fuel, which eliminates emissions like sulphur oxides and reduces nitrogen oxides by up to 85 percent. LNG also plays a key role in climate change mitigation, as it reduces CO2 emissions by 25 percent and is paving the way for the uptake of sustainable non-fossil fuels like green hydrogen.

The two vessels will both feature selective catalytic reduction systems, shore-to-ship power connectivity, advanced wastewater treatment systems to comply with the Baltic standard – the strictest global standard for wastewater disposal to sea, underwater radiated noise management systems to reduce potential noise and vibration impact on marine mammals, and a wide range of energy efficient equipment and systems to optimize engine use.

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About MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises is the world’s third largest cruise brand as well as the leader in Europe, South America, the Gulf region and Southern Africa, with more market share in addition to deployed capacity than any other player. It is also the fastest growing global cruise brand with a strong presence in the Caribbean, North America and the Far East markets.

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, MSC Cruises is one of the two brands that sit within the Cruises Division of MSC Group, the leading privately held Swiss-based shipping and logistics conglomerate with over 300 years of maritime heritage. MSC Cruises – the contemporary brand - has a modern fleet of 19 vessels combined with a sizeable future global investment portfolio of new vessels. The fleet is projected to grow to 23 cruise ships by 2025, with options for six more vessel orders in place through 2030.

MSC Cruises offers its guests an enriching, immersive and safe cruise experience inspired by the Company’s European heritage, where they can enjoy international dining, world-class entertainment, award-winning family programs, and the very latest user-friendly technology on board. To learn more about MSC Cruises’ itineraries and experience on board its ships, click here.

The Company’s number one priority has always been the health and safety of its guests and crew, as well as the communities at the destinations its ships serve.  In August 2020, MSC Cruises implemented a new comprehensive and robust health and safety protocol to become the first major line to return to sea. To learn more about MSC Cruises’ health & safety protocol, click here.

MSC Cruises has long been committed to environmental stewardship, with a long-term goal to achieve net zero emissions for its operations by 2050. The Company is also a significant investor in next-generation environmental marine technologies, with the objective to support their accelerated development and availability industry-wide. To learn more about the Company’s environmental commitment, click here. 

Finally, to learn more about the MSC Foundation, MSC Group’s own vehicle to lead, focus and advance its conservation, humanitarian and cultural commitments, click here.