The 215,863gt vessel is 333.3mtr long with 2,626 cabins and a maximum passenger count of 6,762.
It is claimed as the world’s largest LNG-powered cruise ship and the most innovative and environmentally advanced for MSC Cruises. The marked the next step in a long-term partnership between the two companies.
MSC World America for US market
The name of MSC Cruises’ second World Class ship was also revealed today during a steel-cutting ceremony. ‘MSC World Europa represents a step change into the future of cruising, but the second vessel will be even more innovative,' said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of the cruise division of MSC Group.
MSC World America is destined for North America when she comes into service in 2025, further proof of the line’s commitment to deploy its newest ships to this important cruise market. MSC World America will become the fourth new flagship deployed in the region.
20th ship in MSC fleet
‘We are proud to welcome to our fleet MSC World Europa, our 20th ship and the first to be LNG-powered. This groundbreaking vessel represents the next phase in our journey toward net zero and sustainable cruising and a symbol of our unwavering commitment to both.’
He highlighted the ship as having a range of ‘unprecedented innovations’ in terms of environmental and marine technologies, design and guest-centric features.
‘The innovative technologies we create here to use on our vessels can benefit all of society not just the cruise industry or the shipping sector overall,’ cited Vago.
Laurent Castaing, general manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique, said: ‘We have reached a new stage in the cruise industry with MSC World Europa, the largest ship ever built for a European shipowner. From a technological standpoint MSC World Europa, which is equipped with an LNG propulsion system, presents a new level of performance and efficiency of the cruise industry.’
Castaing stated MSC World Europa is the least emitting ship of the cruise industry, based on Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) in grams of CO2 per nautical mile and gross tonnage.
Solid oxide fuel cell technology
MSC World Europa also features brand new solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology powered by LNG. The ship will include a 150-kilowatt SOFC demonstrator that will use LNG to produce electricity and heat on board in a highly efficient way by means of an electrochemical reaction. It will be a testbed to accelerate the development of fuel cell technology for contemporary cruise ships and offers a potential to enable hybrid propulsion solutions in the future.
Linden Coppell, VP of sustainability & ESG, MSC Cruises, said, ‘We anticipate SOFC will reduce emissions of greenhouse gases substantially compared with conventional LNG engine without producing emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides or fine particles. It also has the advantage of not only being compatible with LNG, but also with low and zero carbon fuels such as green methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen. We could also in the future transition to synthetic LNG or other alternative non-carbon fuels.’
Vago added, ‘We chose LNG for the very clear reason that it is the cleanest marine fuel currently available at scale, a transitional fuel as we look ahead to source and use synthetic LNG or other alternative non-carbon fuels as soon as they become available at scale.’
In partnership with the shipyard, MSC World Europa has been designed with an innovative hull shape to minimise resistance through the water.
Energy efficiency technologies
MSC World Europa also incorporates a wide range of equipment to optimise energy use throughout the ship. These include smart ventilation and advanced air conditioning systems, with automated energy recovery loops, allowing effective distribution of heat and cold across the ship. The ship uses LED lighting throughout the ship, controlled by smart management systems to further enhance the energy saving profile.
It will also be fitted with enhanced automatic data collection systems for remote energy monitoring and advanced analysis, allowing real-time shoreside support to optimise operational efficiency onboard.
MSC World Europa is designed to perform 47% better than its EEDI required by regulation.
The ship is equipped with an advanced wastewater treatment system, a selective catalytic reduction system that reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by 90% when LNG is not available and the ship must run on marine gas oil and shore power capability to minimise engine use at ports where the required infrastructure is available.
MSC World Europa’s hull and engine room have been designed to minimise underwater sound, reducing the potential impact on marine mammals in the surrounding waters.
Y-shaped aft
MSC World Europa features a Y-shaped aft structure that leads to the 104mtr-long, half-open Europa Promenade with ocean views. Brand new balcony cabins overlook the promenade, which features a striking architectural centrepiece in the form of The Venom Drop @ The Spiral, an 11-deck-high slide.
Other MSC World Europa’s novelties include a microbrewery, gin bar, healthy juice bar, coffee emporium and tea house. The ship has 13 dining options including two new specialty restaurants, La Pescaderia that will offer fresh seafood and Chef’s Garden Kitchen for seasonal farm-to-ocean cooking.
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