MSC Group’s cruise division will next week undertake the industry’s first voyage with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions when MSC Cruises’ latest flagship, the liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered MSC Euribia, leaves the shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France – where it is currently being built – en route to its naming ceremony in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The new ship, the 22nd in the MSC Cruises fleet, will sail for four days from Saint-Nazaire to Copenhagen, achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, demonstrating that net-zero emissions cruising is possible today. MSC Euribia will depart the French port on June 3 and is scheduled to arrive in the Danish capital on June 7.
Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of MSC Group's cruise division:
“This industry-first net-zero emissions voyage for our latest flagship MSC Euribia is another important step on our journey towards reduced carbon emissions and demonstrates the breadth of our commitment.
MSC Cruises has purchased 400 tonnes of bio-LNG to demonstrate its commitment to the use of renewable fuels and energy transition measures in conjunction with its pioneering zero-emission voyage. The company is the industry’s first deep-sea cruise operator to purchase bio-LNG as a fuel source that has significant life-cycle emissions reductions.
Pierfrancesco Vago again:
“However, we cannot do this alone. Given the importance of alternative fuels to our industry and to other sectors of civil society in achieving reduced carbon emissions, we must all work together to increase their availability at scale. Our purchase of bio-LNG will send a clear and meaningful signal to the market that there is demand from cruise lines and the wider shipping industry for cleaner fuels, but governments, producers and end users need to work together and increase the availability of these much-needed and new sources of power.”.
Net-zero sailing will take advantage of bio-LNG through a so-called mass balance system, the most environmentally efficient method to harness the benefits of renewable biogas. The entire supply chain will be fully compliant with the EU Renewable Energy Directive, commonly known as RED II, and every single batch of the total bio-LNG produced has been certified by International Sustainability & Carbon Certification.
MSC Cruises is supported by Nordic energy company Gasum, a leading producer of biogas and processor of biodegradable waste fractions in the Nordic region, for the voyage with net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the press release.
