On 23MAY, MSC Cruises announced that its newest vessel, MSC World Europa, is set to become the greenest and most efficient vessel in the cruise line's fleet when it is delivered in OCT 2022. The new ship will be the largest LNG powered cruise ship in the world when it launches, and will also feature other environmental credentials, including solid oxide fuel cells, a selective catalytic reduction system and enhanced shore-to-ship power capability.
According to MSC, MSC World Europa will be the world’s first contemporary cruise vessel to feature brand new solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) 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 emissions reductions compared to traditional internal combustion engines.
Compared to standard marine fuels, LNG "nearly eliminates" air pollutant emissions, including sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides and fine particles, and achieves a CO2 reduction of up to 25 per cent.
“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 decarbonisation 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,” said Linden Coppell, Director of Sustainability for MSC Cruises.
MSC World Europa features a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system that reduces NOx emissions by 90 per cent when LNG is not available and the ship must run on marine gas oil. As LNG fuel achieves a similar reduction, MSC World Europa will always meet International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) Tier III NOx emissions standards, said MSC. On top of this, shore-to-ship power connectivity allows MSC World Europa to minimise engine use at ports where the required infrastructure is available.
MSC World Europa also features the advanced wastewater treatment technology, in compliance with the IMO’s MEPC 227(64) Resolution, the so-called ‘Baltic Standard’. The ship includes an advanced ballast water treatment system that prevents the introduction of invasive species in the marine environment through ballast water discharges, in compliance with IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention.
MSC World Europa also incorporates a range of equipment to help optimize energy use throughout the ship and is designed to perform 47 per cent better than it is required Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), said MSC.
MSC World Europa’s hull and engine room was also designed to minimise acoustic underwater sound impact, reducing the potential impact on marine mammals in the surrounding waters.
For more information on MSC Cruises, visit its web site.
