MSC WORLD EUROPA SUCCESSFULLY CONNECTS TO SHORE POWER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Geneva, Switzerland – December 18, 2023 – MSC Cruises continued advancing its commitment to environmental sustainability last Wednesday by successfully connecting MSC World Europa to shore power in the port of Valetta, Malta—the first operational shore power facility in the Mediterranean.

The cruise line performed its first tests at Valetta earlier this year, which led to refinements in the port’s shore power implementation process and last week’s successful connection. MSC World Europa will connect to the shore power facilities from now on while calling in Valetta. The ship will call every week during 2024 and 2025.

MSC Cruises is committed to using shore power wherever it is available. The technology is an integral part of the company’s journey toward net zero greenhouse gas emission operations by 2050. Using shore power allows a ship to connect to the local power grid and removes the need to keep a ship’s engine running, which eliminates direct emissions while the vessel is connected in port.

Every new ship joining the MSC Cruises fleet since 2017 has been equipped with a shore power connection, with plans underway to retrofit additional ships. The line has been able to increase the number of port calls utilizing shore power as more ports introduce the required facilities. The historic connection in Valetta follows recent successful connections in Northern Europe—including Warnemünde in Germany; the Norwegian ports at Bergen, Aalesund and Haugesund; and Southampton in the UK. Earlier this year, MSC Cruises inaugurated a new shore power facility in Kiel, Germany.

MSC Cruises aims to add at least 15 new ports to its shore power plan between 2024 and 2026, focusing on ports in Italy, including Genoa, La Spezia, Civitavecchia, Naples and Trieste, as well as prominent ports such as Barcelona, Hamburg, Valencia, Marseille, Copenhagen, and at its new cruise terminal in Miami opening next year. MSC Cruises acknowledges the importance of collaboration with ports and regions in achieving sustainable maritime practices. The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance shore power facilities in the Baltic Sea area, and similar commitments are being pursued with other ports in the Mediterranean Sea.

Michele Francioni, SVP Cost Optimisation & Process Improvement, MSC Cruises, said, "Our shore power plan demonstrates that we are fully committed to reducing emissions from our ships. Using shore power is a major step forward because it allows us to eliminate a ship’s direct emissions whilst berthed. We need more ports across Europe and beyond to introduce shore power as quickly as possible so that we can further reduce local air emissions. We will ensure our ships are ready to connect wherever the facilities are available to us. Connecting MSC World Europa to the shore power in Valletta is a proud achievement and we are grateful for the collaboration and excellent cooperation with Transport Malta, Infrastructure Malta and the Maltese authorities, as well as with the Cruise Port of Valetta.”

MSC World Europa was MSC Cruises’ first vessel to be powered by liquefied natural gas. As one of the world’s best performing large cruise ships in terms of CO2eq emissions per passenger, MSC World Europa represents a major step forward on MSC Cruises’ journey toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. MSC World Europa is also among the first contemporary cruise ships to incorporate solid oxide fuel cell technology, with trial tests showing very promising results.

# # #

About MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises is the world’s third largest cruise brand as well as the market leader in Europe, South America, the Gulf region, and Southern Africa. 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 Cruise Division of MSC Group, the world’s leading and privately held shipping and logistics conglomerate with over 300 years of maritime heritage. MSC Cruises – the contemporary brand - has a modern fleet of 22 vessels combined with a sizeable future global investment portfolio of new vessels, terminals, and other assets. 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 line’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.