MSC Group reveals next phase of shore power plan

The cruise division of MSC Group has unveiled details of the next phase of its shore power plan.

At least 15 new ports between 2024 and 2026 will be added to the existing use for its vessels to plug into shoreside electricity grids to further demonstrate a commitment to, and continued progress towards, decarbonization, as well as reducing emissions from its fleet of ships while berthed in ports.

The new 2024-26 shore power plan includes at least five Italian ports; Barcelona and Valencia in Spain; Stavanger and Norfjordied, Norway; Miami, USA; Copenhagen, Denmark; Marseille, France; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Valletta, Malta and Stockholm, Sweden.

MSC intends for its ships, both MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys, to fully utilize shore power facilities at all other ports where it operates throughout Europe and the rest of the world when they are made available.

Using shore power removes the need to keep a ship’s engine running and drastically reduces in-port emissions from the vessel.

Trials underway 

Since February 2023, MSC Cruises’ ships have successfully used shore power at the ports of Southampton, UK and Kristiansand, Norway and later this summer the company will test the facilities at the Norwegian port of Haugesund, the company says. 

Other European trials this year are planned for a range of MSC Cruises’ ships at Bergen and Alesund in Norway and Warnemunde in Germany.

MSC Cruises will also use shore power in the German ports of Hamburg this winter and at Kiel in summer 2024.

READ MORE: MSC Euribia to sail "world's first" net zero greenhouse gas emissions cruise

MSC Cruises last year signed a memorandum of understanding with Cruise Baltic for shore power in the Baltic Sea area.  

Cruise Baltic has 32 ports and destinations in its region that are committed to increase the number of shore power facilities.

Shore power capability has been fitted on all MSC Cruises’ new ships as standard since 2017 and together with retrofits completed on other vessels, 67 per cent of MSC Cruises’ total capacity is equipped with the technology. 

More ships will be retrofitted as the ports on their sailing itineraries make shore power available.

All Explora Journeys’ ships will also feature shore power capabilities. 

EXPLORA I, the first ship in the new brand’s fleet, will first come into service on July 17 of this year.  

“Shore power is an important factor on our journey towards net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) operations. All of our newbuilds since 2017 are equipped with the ability to plug into local power grids and we are rolling out retrofits on the other vessels in our fleet," said Linden Coppell, VP of sustainability & ESG, MSC Cruises. 

 MSC Group said it recently operated the  industry’s first net zero greenhouse gas emissions voyage with its latest flagship, the liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered MSC Euribia. 

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