In a press release, MSC Group and shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique announced a groundbreaking ceremony today for the ship MSC Euribia, which features the most energy-efficient cruise ship design ever.

With the delivery of the boat at the Saint-Nazaire yard in France, the Cruise Division took another step towards decarbonising its fleet and demonstrating what the future of cruising might look like.

As the second MSC Cruises ship powered by LNG, which is the cleanest and most efficient fuel currently available on commercial scale, the MSC Euribia is the final evolution of the Meraviglia class.

Her advanced energy efficiency design exceeds the latest Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) requirements set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Compared to conventional vessels using conventional marine fuels, this vessel will emit 19 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions per passenger per day.

Compared to ships built only ten years ago, MSC ships emit 44 percent fewer greenhouse gases per passenger per day.

According to Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Group’s Cruise Division: “We have made another enormous step towards our goal of net zero GHG emissions with MSC Euribia.” Besides her numerous environmental innovations, MSC Euribia features an energy-efficient design that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the lifetime of the ship.

“Decarbonisation often focuses solely on supply-side measures, but energy efficiency will play a critical role in reducing energy demand today. While supply-side measures are important to decarbonisation, we must not overlook energy efficiency. MSC Euribia has been constructed with this principle in mind, which makes it the cleanest vessel in the world. This is the reason she regards her arrival as a milestone toward achieving net zero GHG marine operations by 2050.”

A statement by Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique said: “I am extremely proud of the strength of the relationship between Chantiers de l’Atlantique and MSC Cruises. Our common environmental innovative projects have concluded with this fifth and last ship of the Meraviglia Class.”

While LNG can power the vessel, retrofits allow MSC Cruises to use renewable fuels, such as green methanol, that are not currently readily available.

Vago added, “We are making sure our ships are ready for the new sustainable fuels that will be available in the future.” Additionally, we want them to be readily retrofitted with new technology and new efficiency that will contribute to net zero greenhouse gas emissions. There’s nothing more futuristic than a ship like this.