Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela toured MSC World Europa in Valletta as the ship officially inaugurated the port’s shore power facility, the first to be operational in the Mediterranean Sea.
Valetta’s local power grid supplied electricity for all MSC World Europa’s operations while the ship was berthed to allow all engines to be switched off and eliminate the vessel’s direct emissions at the port to improve local air quality.
7 night Cruises
The vessel is operating 7-night cruises throughout 2024 and 2025 between Malta, Spain, France and Italy.
Michele Francioni, Chief Energy Transition Officer, MSC Cruises, said, “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, and we can switch off their engines as local shoreside electricity powers the operation.”
MSC Cruises’ target by the end of 2024, when 16 of the line’s 22 vessels will be equipped to receive shoreside electricity at a port, is for 220 shore power connections among its fleet at destinations in China, Norway, Germany, the UK and Malta. As more ports make shore power available, MSC Cruises’ ships will use local electricity grids.
Net zero GHG emissions goal
MSC Cruises has categorised its strategy to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (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.
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Source: mscpressarea
