MSC Euribia takes on shore power and LNG in Kiel

The vessel connected to shore power at the Ostuferhafen cruise terminal as part of MSC Cruises‘ flagship’s summer season from the port in Northern Germany. 

Bunkering of LNG fuel was also undertaken at Kiel before the ship set sail on a seven-night voyage to Copenhagen in Denmark and a range of Norwegian fjord ports. 

This was the first time these two processes had taken place simultaneously.

Two weeks ago, MSC Preziosa connected to the shore power facility in Hamburg’s Cruise Centre Steinwerder for the first time. 

Ports urged to supply shore power 

‘We made a commitment to increase our use of shore power whenever it becomes available to us, and we are pleased with this new milestone we achieved in Kiel at the weekend and two weeks ago in Hamburg for MSC Preziosa,’ said Michele Francioni, chief energy transition officer, MSC Cruises. 

But, he added, ‘We now need more ports across Europe and beyond to provide shore power so that we can further reduce local air emissions...’ 

MSC will retrofit three additional ships in 2024 – MSC Magnifica, MSC Musica and MSC Splendida – with shore power connectivity. ‘This further demonstrates our commitment to, and continued progress towards, decarbonisation, as well as reducing emissions from our vessels while berthed in ports,’ Francioni stated. 

MSC Fantasia, MSC Poesia and MSC Preziosa were retrofitted last year, and more ships will be retrofitted in the future as the ports on their sailing itineraries make shore power available. 

MSC Cruises’ vessels in 2023 connected to shore power with 44 port calls and by the end of this year the plan, based on the known availability of port infrastructure, is for at least 220 connections to local power, when 16 of the line's fleet of 22 vessels will be equipped with shore power connectivity.  

Northern Europe

MSC Euribia is one of four ships in MSC Cruises‘ fleet that will offer summer cruises in Northern Europe with MSC Virtuosa, MSC Poesia and MSC Preziosa also taking advantage of shore power at ports during the season at Southampton, Warnemunde and Hamburg, respectively.