MSC World Europa will become the greenest and most efficient vessel in MSC Cruises' fleet when she is delivered in October 2022. Today MSC Cruises released information about the ship's environmental credentials, including solid oxide fuel cells, a selective catalytic reduction system and enhanced shore-to-ship power capability. She will also be the largest cruise ship in the world powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) when she launches later this year.
MSC World Europa will be the world's first LNG-powered contemporary cruise vessel to feature new solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology developed by MSC Cruises, Chantiers de l'Atlantique and Bloom Energy. The ship will include a 150-kilowatt SOFC demonstrator that will generate auxiliary power to deliver efficiency gains and significant CO2 emission reductions compared to traditional internal combustion engines. It will be a testbed to accelerate the development of fuel cell technology for contemporary cruise ships and offers the potential to enable hybrid propulsion solutions in the future.
Linden Coppell, Director of Sustainability for MSC Cruises, said, "We are committed to a net-zero future, which is why we are investing heavily in the development of low-carbon fuels and solutions that will accelerate the decarbonization of the maritime sector. MSC World Europa will be our most efficient ship yet and help us prove and refine environmental technologies for the future of our fleet. With this project, we are also advancing partnerships with technology suppliers, energy companies, academia, and regulatory bodies. We must all deepen our collaboration to unlock a zero-emissions future.”
Compared to standard marine fuels, LNG nearly eliminates air pollutant emissions, including sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particles. It also achieves a CO2 emission reduction of up to 25%. In addition, LNG will enable the development of low-carbon fuels and solutions such as green hydrogen, bio-LNG, and fuel cells. Traditional marine fuels cannot support these upcoming solutions.
MSC World Europa features a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system that reduces NOx emissions by 90% when LNG is not available and the ship must run on marine gas oil. LNG fuel achieves a similar reduction, so MSC World Europa will always meet the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO's) Tier III NOx emissions standards. In addition, shore-to-ship power connectivity allows MSC World Europa to minimize engine use at ports that have the required infrastructure.
As with all new MSC Cruises' ships, MSC World Europa features the latest wastewater treatment technology to comply with the most stringent standards of IMO's MEPC 227(64) Resolution, also known as the Baltic Standard. The ship includes an advanced ballast water treatment system that prevents the introduction of invasive species into the marine environment through ballast water discharges, in compliance with IMO's Ballast Water Management Convention.
MSC World Europa incorporates a wide range of equipment to optimize energy use throughout the ship. This includes smart ventilation and advanced air conditioning systems with automated energy recovery loops, allowing effective distribution of heat and cold across the ship. The ship uses LED lighting controlled by smart management systems to further enhance the energy-saving profile. In partnership with the shipyard, MSC World Europa has been designed with an innovative hull shape to minimize resistance through the water. It will also be fitted with enhanced automatic data collection systems for remote energy monitoring and advanced analysis, allowing real-time shoreside support to optimize operational efficiency on board.
These efficiency advances, and the use of LNG, will enable an operational performance far higher than the IMO-required energy design criteria for new ships. MSC World Europa is designed to perform 47% better than required by the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI).
MSC World Europa’s hull and engine room have been designed to minimize acoustic underwater sound impact, reducing the potential impact on marine mammals in the surrounding waters.
MSC Cruises has three firm orders for LNG-powered vessels for delivery between 2022 and 2025, representing an overall investment of more than $3 billion. MSC World Europa will be followed by MSC Euribia, which is also currently under construction in Saint Nazaire and set to enter service in 2023. Construction of the third ship is set to commence in early 2023.
