MSC Takes Delivery of the Largest LNG-Powered Cruise Ship
MSC took delivery of its new LNG-powered cruise ship, the MSC World Europa on October 24th at St. Nazaire, France. The 215,863 gross-ton vessel, built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique is claimed to be the world’s largest LNG-powered Cruise vessel.
The new cruise ship is 1,094 feet long and has 20 decks. It has a cabin count of 2,626, which can accommodate 6,762 passengers. The ship also has a crew capacity of 2,138.
The MSC World Europa is designed with sustainability in mind and has many features which reflect this design decision. Other than the fact that the vessel can use LNG for operations, the vessel is also equipped with Solid Oxide Fuel Cell technology (SOFC). The SOFC demonstrator on the ship will be able to generate 150 kilowatts of power by using LNG in an electrochemical reaction, hence reducing the dependence on the power generator onboard.
Features such as smart ventilation, advanced air conditioning systems, automated energy recovery loops, and LED lighting allow for efficient use of energy on the ship. The vessel will also be fitted with automatic data collection systems. This would allow the ship to have real-time shoreside support to optimize the ship’s operational efficiency.
The cruise ship is also fitted with an advanced wastewater treatment system and a selective catalytic reduction system that reduces NOx emissions. The SCR system reduces NOx emissions by 90% and is particularly useful when the ship is not running on LNG.
The hull has an innovative shape that not only minimizes the ship’s drag but also minimizes its acoustic impact on the ocean, preventing any potential impact on aquatic life.
The vessel’s naming ceremony will be held on November 13th at Doha. Following this, the vessel will serve as a hotel for the tourists of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
MSC and Chantiers de l’Atlantique also concurrently performed the steel-cutting ceremony for one of their new ships, the MSC World America. The new ship is intended to be even more advanced than the MSC World Europa and will be launched in the North American market.
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