Next week, MSC Group's Cruise Division will make history by operating the industry's first voyage with net zero greenhouse gas emissions. This milestone will be achieved by the flagship of MSC Cruises - MSC Euribia, which is currently under construction in Saint-Nazaire, France. The ship will embark on a 4-day journey from Saint-Nazaire to Copenhagen, Denmark, where the naming ceremony will take place.
To showcase the feasibility of net zero cruising, MSC has purchased 400 tonnes of bio-LNG for the voyage. This demonstrates the company's commitment to energy transition measures and the deployment of sustainable fuels. By utilizing bio-LNG through a mass-balance system, the entire supply chain adheres to the European Union's Renewable Energy Directive (RED II). Each batch of bio-LNG used has been certified by the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification.
Gasum, a Nordic energy company known for producing biogas and processing biodegradable waste fractions, is supporting MSC Cruises in achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions for this voyage.
The design of MSC Euribia's maiden voyage has been optimized to minimize fuel consumption. Energy efficiency specialists from MSC and the shipbuilder Chantiers de L'Atlantique will be on board to monitor and optimize all aspects of the voyage. Working closely with the ship's Captain and Chief Engineer, they will ensure that fuel consumption is minimized without compromising guest comfort.
Shore-based energy efficiency experts in London UK will continuously monitor and optimize all onboard systems to reduce energy demand and identify further opportunities for energy efficiency improvements in real time.
MSC's newbuilds are designed to be fuel flexible and can accommodate a variety of renewable fuels. The use of fossil LNG alone already reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20% compared to conventional marine fuels.
Additionally, it significantly reduces SOx emissions and soot particles, while also decreasing NOx emissions by 85%.