Vessel will be named MSC Euribia and be the greenest in the fleet when she debuts in June 2023
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Chantiers de l’Atlantique has cut the steel for MSC Cruises’ newest LNG-powered cruise ship at its yard in Saint Nazaire, France.
The construction milestone was commemorated with a traditional ceremony where MSC Cruises’ executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago joined Chantiers de l’Atlantique’s general manager Laurent Castaing to start the cutting machine for the first piece of steel. During the ceremony, MSC Cruises also revealed that the vessel will be named MSC Euribia in honour of Eurybia, a Greek goddess who possessed mastery of the seas.
Set to debut in June 2023, MSC Euribia will also be equipped with the latest green technologies to minimise her environmental impact and make her MSC Cruises’ most eco-friendly ship to date.
“Just as the ancient goddess harnessed the winds, weather and constellations to master the seas, our vision is for MSC Euribia to master the deployment of sustainable technologies to protect and preserve our precious marine ecosystem,” said Vago. “This ship marks a new milestone in our journey towards net zero impact operations and is testament to our commitment to foster and develop next-generation environmental technologies.
MSC Euribia will have four Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines, which will primarily operate on LNG fuel to eliminate 99 per cent of sulphur oxide, 85 per cent of nitrogen oxide and 98 per cent of particle emissions. Occasionally, the vessel will run on 0.1 per cent sulphur marine gasoil and a selective catalytic reduction system will help to cut nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 90 per cent. MSC Euribia’s engines will also potentially decrease carbon dioxide emissions by up to 25 per cent compared to standard fuels.
Some of MSC Euribia’s other green technologies include ship-to-shore connectivity systems, an advanced wastewater treatment system complying with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) MEPC 227(64) Resolution, and an advanced ballast water treatment system that meets the requirements of the IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention. The vessel will also have an underwater radiated noise management system to reduce the potential impact of hull and engine room operations on marine life and fauna.
Like all of MSC Cruises’ newbuilds, MSC Euribia will also be fitted with energy-efficient equipment to help reduce and optimise engine use. These include LED lighting controlled by intelligent management systems, smart ventilation and advanced air conditioning systems with automated energy recovery loops that redistribute heat and cold to reduce demand. In partnership with the shipyard, MSC Euribia will be fitted with automatic data collection systems for remote energy monitoring and advanced analysis, allowing real-time shoreside support to optimise operational efficiency onboard.
“As a family with over 300 years of seafaring heritage, we always seek to protect the environment to safeguard our way of life and protect the planet for future generations,” said Vago. “With our first LNG-powered vessel already under construction, MSC Euribia will further reduce emissions using the latest available technology. She will be one of the world’s most environmentally high-performing contemporary vessels.”
MSC Cruises is committed to powering at least three upcoming ships with LNG. The first of these, MSC World Europa, is currently under construction in Saint Nazaire and set to enter service in October 2022. Construction of the third vessel is set to commence in early 2023.
In addition, MSC Cruises is working with Chantiers de l’Atlantique and a consortium of energy and technology companies to develop a pilot LNG-powered solid oxide fuel cell technology for cruise ships that could further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.