It is rare that at 3 months from delivery, when the liner is not yet finished, the shipowner opens its doors. Yet this is what this Tuesday, July 5 did MSC Cruises to Atlantic shipyards in Saint-Nazaire, proud to present its boat, the MSC World Europa, the 6th largest in the worldthe first built in France to run on LNG, liquefied natural gas. Another green innovation on board: a new type of fuel cell. “A significant step for the decarbonization of cruises” indicate the Shipyards.
LNG: 25% less CO2 emissions
LNG first. 4 tanks in the engine room, which means 15 days of autonomy. LNG reduced by 25% CO2 emissions and more than 95% those of sulphur, nitrogen and fine particles. “It is the ideal mode of propulsion, knowing that it is still a fossil fuel that will evolve. We will soon have bio LNG, synthetic methane or even green hydrogen”, explains Henri Doyer, director of MSC construction at Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
– Helen Roussel
– Helen Roussel
A type of fuel cell in world premiere on an ocean liner
Regarding the Fuel cell, it is a demonstration in world premiere on a liner. A prototype for now. It was too late to put her in the engine room when MSC gave the green light, so the shipyards proposed to install her at the very top between the 2 funnels. It’s about a solid oxide fuel cellso there is no need for expensive and rare hydrogen, it works with LNG and generatesemission-free electricity. 150 megawatts i.e. the consumption of 300 people. “It’s the equivalent of our yacht club located at the front, the VIP place of the boat”, says Patrick Pourbais, Managing Director of MSC Croisières France, who recalls that the shipowner has set itself zero emissions by 2050. The Shipyards are already planning to equip cruise ships with several of these batteries within 3 to 4 years. This would allow them to be autonomous when docked. Finished then the fuel oil to produce electricity in the ports, where the pollution of these giants does regularly controversy.
– Helen Roussel
– Helen Roussel
The 333-meter-long liner, which can accommodate 6,762 passengers, will be delivered in October 2022. Inaugurated in Marseille on the weekend of October 23 and 24, the MSC World Europa, whose bill amounts to more thanone billion euros, will then leave for his first cruise in Doha.
– Helen Roussel
– Helen Roussel
Two other LNG-powered MSC liners will be delivered by 2025. Two more are still optional.
– Helen Roussel
– Helen Roussel
– Helen Roussel
MSC World Europa in numbers:
- 333 meters long, 68 meters high
- 6,762 passengers, 2,138 crew members, 2,626 cabins
- 38,000 tons of steel, 7 million hours of work, designed and built in 2 years
- 7 swimming pools, 20 bars, slides on 10 floors, 30 meters high