MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique carried out sea trials for the shipbuilder’s first LNG ship, which will become the largest LNG cruise ship.
The MSC World Europa completed sea trials in the Atlantic last weekend as it prepares to enter service in November 2022.
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The MSC World Europa departed Saint-Nazaire, France on June 15 for four days of testing returning to the yard on June 18 to continue its outfitting. 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 is now investing more than $3.14 billion in three LNG-powered cruise ships, including the MSC World Europa and a sister ship that will begin construction early next year at Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
What is more, last weekend the yard also floated out the MSC Euribia, a sister ship in the Meraviglia Plus class that is also the first being built to operate on LNG.
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
said Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division of MSC Group.
Both of the new LNG-powered ships will also selective catalytic reduction systems, shore-to-ship power connectivity, advanced wastewater treatment systems to comply with the Baltic standard, 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.
In the MSC Euribia all wastewater on board will be directed to the water treatment system so that no water leaves the ship without specific treatment that cleans the water to the highest standards.
Other waste materials will be collected are sorted for recycling, and the line like others in the industry has significantly reduced plastic waste by eliminating or replacing single-use plastic items.
The MSC Euribia is scheduled to enter service in June 2023.
