With a continued commitment to environmental sustainability,
MSC
Cruises announces its first successful connection to shore power in the
port of Valetta, Malta – the first operational shore power facility in the
Mediterranean.
The line is committed to the use of shore power wherever it’s
available as it is an integral part of MSC’s journey towards net zero
greenhouse gas emission operations by 2050. Using shore power allows a ship to
connect to the local power grid and removes the need to keep a ship’s engine
running, which eliminates direct emissions while the vessel is connected in
port.
MSC Cruises performed the first tests earlier this year at
Valletta and the experience contributed to refining the shore power
implementation process. MSC
World Europa will now connect to the shore power facilities while calling
in Valetta.
Since 2017, every new ship joining the MSC Cruises fleet has
been equipped with a shore power connection and plans are underway to retrofit
ships. As more ports introduce shore power facilities, the line has been able
to increase the number of port calls utilizing shore power electricity.
The historic connection in Valetta follows the recent
successful connections in Northern Europe – including Warnemünde in Germany,
the Norwegian ports at Bergen, Aalesund and Haugesund, and Southampton in the
UK. Earlier this year, MSC Cruises inaugurated the new shore power facility in Kiel,
Germany.
MSC Cruises plans to add at least 15 new ports to its shore
power plan between 2024 and 2026, focusing on Italian ports such as Genoa, La
Spezia, Civitavecchia, Naples and Trieste. Other prominent ports with shore
power capabilities include Barcelona, Hamburg, Valencia, Marseille, Copenhagen,
and the new cruise terminal in Miami.
Acknowledging the importance of collaboration with ports and
regions in achieving sustainable maritime practices, the company signed a
Memorandum of Understanding to enhance shore power facilities in the Baltic Sea
area. Similar commitments are being pursued with other ports in the
Mediterranean Sea.
Michele Francioni, SVP Cost Optimisation & Process
Improvement, MSC Cruises, said, "Our shore power plan demonstrates that we
are fully committed to reducing emissions from our ships. Using shore power is
a major step forward because it allows us to eliminate a ship’s direct
emissions whilst berthed. We need more ports across Europe and beyond to
introduce shore power as quickly as possible so that we can further reduce
local air emissions.”
He added, “We will ensure our ships are ready to connect
wherever the facilities are available to us. Connecting MSC World Europa to the
shore power in Valletta is a proud achievement and we are grateful for the
collaboration and excellent cooperation with Transport Malta, Infrastructure
Malta and the Maltese authorities, as well as with the Cruise Port of Valetta.”
MSC World Europa was MSC Cruises’ first vessel to be powered
by liquefied natural gas. The vessel is also among the first contemporary
cruise ships to incorporate solid oxide fuel cell technology, with trial tests
showing very promising results.
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