Tuesday, December 19, 2023
On the last Wednesday, MSC Cruises took a significant stride in its ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability by successfully linking MSC World Europa to shore power at the port of Valetta, Malta—a milestone marking the inauguration of the first operational shore power facility in the Mediterranean.
Earlier this year, the cruise line conducted initial tests in Valetta, leading to refinements in the implementation process of the port’s shore power system, culminating in the successful connection last week. Going forward, MSC World Europa will routinely utilize the shore power facilities when calling in Valetta, with weekly visits scheduled throughout 2024 and 2025.
MSC Cruises steadfastly adheres to employing shore power wherever feasible, viewing the technology as an integral element in its quest for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Shore power enables a ship to link to the local power grid, obviating the need to keep the ship’s engine operational while in port and thereby eliminating direct emissions during that time.
From 2017 onward, each new vessel integrated into the MSC Cruises fleet has been outfitted with a shore power connection, and initiatives are in progress to retrofit extra ships. By enhancing the number of port calls at facilities with the essential infrastructure, the company has successfully broadened the adoption of shore power. Notable achievements in this endeavor include the groundbreaking connection in Valetta, complemented by recent triumphs in Northern Europe, encompassing Warnemünde in Germany, Norwegian ports like Bergen, Aalesund, and Haugesund, and Southampton in the UK. Additionally, MSC Cruises marked the beginning of this year with the inauguration of a cutting-edge shore power facility in Kiel, Germany.
Looking ahead, MSC Cruises aims to incorporate at least 15 new ports into its shore power plan between 2024 and 2026, focusing on locations in Italy (Genoa, La Spezia, Civitavecchia, Naples, and Trieste) as well as prominent ports including Barcelona, Hamburg, Valencia, Marseille, Copenhagen, and its upcoming cruise terminal in Miami. Recognizing the significance of collaboration, MSC Cruises has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance shore power facilities in the Baltic Sea area and is actively pursuing similar commitments with other Mediterranean ports.
Michele Francioni, Senior Vice President of Cost Optimization & Process Improvement at MSC Cruises, affirmed the company’s dedication, articulating, “Our strategy for shore power underscores our unwavering commitment to diminishing emissions from our vessels. Embracing shore power signifies a significant leap forward, enabling us to eradicate a ship’s direct emissions while docked. Urgency lies in the expansion of shore power across Europe and other regions to swiftly curtail local air emissions.”
MSC World Europa, the first MSC Cruises vessel powered by liquefied natural gas, stands out as one of the world’s top-performing large cruise ships in terms of CO2eq emissions per passenger. Representing a significant advancement in MSC Cruises’ journey towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, MSC World Europa also features solid oxide fuel cell technology—an innovation showcased through trial tests with highly promising results.
Tags: cruise travel, MSC Cruises, MSC World Europa
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