MSC Cruises to sail world’s first net-zero greenhouse gas emission itinerary

The first ever net zero greenhouse gas emission voyage will be operated by MSC Groups cruise division when the flagship MSC Euribia leaves her shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.

Currently under production, MSC Euribia will be the 22nd vessel to join the MSC fleet and will be powered by liquified natural gas (LNG).

She will sail a four day journey from Saint-Nazaire to Copenhagen for her naming ceremony. In doing so she will achieve a net zero greenhouse gas emission and demonstrate that net zero cruising is possible today.

“This industry-first net zero gas emissions voyage of our latest flagship MSC Euribia heralds another significant step on our decarbonisation journey and demonstrates more than anything the extent of our commitment,” executive chairman, cruise division MSC Group, Pierfrancesco Vago, said.

MSC Cruises purchased 400 tonnes of bio-LNG to show its commitment to the deployment of drop-in renewable fuels and energy transition measures towards the pioneering net zero gas emissions voyage.  The line is the industry’s first deep sea ocean cruise operator to buy bio-LNG as a fuel source that has significant lifecycle emissions reductions.

We cannot do this alone, however given the absolute importance of alternative fuels for our industry as well as for other sectors across civil society to achieve decarbonisation, we all need to work together to increase their availability at scale,” Vago continued.

“Our purchase of bio-LNG will send a clear and meaningful signal to the market that there is demand from cruise lines and the broader maritime industry for cleaner fuels, but we need governments, producers and end-users to collaborate and scale-up the availability of these much-needed and new sources of power.”

The net zero sailing will utilise bio-LNG using a mass-balance system, the most environmentally efficient method of delivering the benefits of renewable biogas.  The entire supply chain will be fully compliant with the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive, commonly known as RED II, and each individual batch of the total bio-LNG produced has been certified by the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification.

“MSC Euribia’s first voyage will be an incredible feat and represents years of commitment and determination,” SVP, MSC Cruises, Michele Francioni, said.

“It should prove that we have the capability to operate on a net zero greenhouse gas emissions basis with existing ship technology.

“This is just the beginning. We are committed to this transition and putting in place everything we can do to facilitate it. It cannot be done without alternative fuels such as bio-LNG, e-LNG, green hydrogen or green methanol being made widely available at scale to fully realise the vision of net zero cruising.”

MSC Cruises is being supported by Nordic energy company Gasum for the net zero greenhouse gas emissions voyage, a leading producer of biogas and processor of biodegradable waste fractions in the Nordic region.

MSC Cruises’ shore-based energy efficiency experts based in London will continuously monitor and optimise all systems on board to minimise energy demand, identify additional opportunities to improve energy efficiency in real-time, while maintaining high comfort for all guests on board.

This will include a range of measures from the configuration of the engines down to the speed of individual air-conditioning fans in guest cabins, together with the itinerary and speed optimisation.

All of the combined initiatives will save energy to reduce fuel consumption.

MSC Cruises’ new builds are fuel flexible ships that can accommodate a variety of renewable fuels both available today and expected in the future.  The use of fossil LNG already achieves up to a 20 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when compared to conventional marine fuels, and virtually eliminates all sulphur oxide and particulate emissions while also reducing nitrogen oxides by 85 per cent.