MSC World Europa hosts Maltese PM as Valletta shore power inaugurated

The vessel is operating seven-night cruises throughout 2024 and 2025 between Malta, Spain, France and Italy.   

‘Shore power is one very important element of our continued commitment towards decarbonisation with most of our fleet equipped to eliminate local emissions and improve local air quality when the ships are at berth in port…’ said Michele Francioni, chief energy transition officer, MSC Cruises. 

‘It was a great honour to show the prime minister of Malta of how his country has led the way for shore power in the Mediterranean Sea, our major market for holidays at sea, and we look forward to many more ports in the region and throughout the world being equipped in the future so that the cruise and broader maritime sector can further reduce local emissions in ports,’ Francioni added. 

The facility is the first to be operational in the Mediterranean Sea.

Ship tour  

The PM was shown around the 22-deck LNG-powered vessel by the ship’s master, capt. Stefano Battinelli. Abela and other Maltese government officials were also given a presentation by Francioni on the line’s decarbonisation strategy to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 for its marine operations.

MSC Cruises’ target by the end of 2024 – when 16 of the line’s 22 vessels will be equipped to receive shore power – is for 220 shore power connections among its fleet at destinations in China, Norway, Germany, the UK and Malta. 

The line aims to add at least 15 new ports to its shore power plan between 2024 and 2026, among them: Barcelona and Valencia, Spain; Hamburg, Germany; Marseille, France; Copenhagen, Denmark; Genoa, La Spezia, Civitavecchia, Naples and Trieste in Italy; and at the company’s new cruise terminal in Miami that will become fully operational next year.

MSC Cruises has categorised its strategy to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050 for its marine operations into three pillars of activity: ship and engine technology, which includes shore power connectivity, operational efficiency and renewable fuels.