MSC WORLD EUROPA SETS NEW STANDARDS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AT SEA AND ACCELERATES MSC CRUISES’ JOURNEY TO NET ZERO

• LNG-powered MSC World Europa will become first contemporary cruise vessel to incorporate fuel cell technology that has the potential to deliver significant CO2 emission reductions
• MSC Cruises’ newest vessel will also feature a range of solutions to help minimize her impact on the air and marine environments
• Ship will be the 20th in MSC Cruises’ fleet and become the world’s largest LNG-powered cruise ship when she is delivered in October

Saint Nazaire, France and Geneva, Switzerland – May 23, 2022 – MSC World Europa will become the greenest and most efficient vessel in MSC Cruises’ fleet when she is delivered in October 2022. Today MSC Cruises released information about the ship’s environmental credentials, including solid oxide fuel cells, a selective catalytic reduction system and enhanced shore-to-ship power capability. She will also be the largest cruise ship in the world powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) when she launches later this year.

MSC World Europa will be the world’s first LNG-powered contemporary cruise vessel to feature new solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology developed by MSC Cruises, Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Bloom Energy. The ship will include a 150-kilowatt SOFC demonstrator that will generate auxiliary power to deliver efficiency gains and significant CO2 emission reductions compared to traditional internal combustion engines. It will be a testbed to accelerate the development of fuel cell technology for contemporary cruise ships and offers the potential to enable hybrid propulsion solutions in the future.

Linden Coppell, Director of Sustainability for MSC Cruises, said, “We are committed to a net-zero future, which is why we are investing heavily in the development of low-carbon fuels and solutions that will accelerate the decarbonization of the maritime sector. MSC World Europa will be our most efficient ship yet and help us prove and refine environmental technologies for the future of our fleet. With this project, we are also advancing partnerships with technology suppliers, energy companies, academia, and regulatory bodies. We must all deepen our collaboration to unlock a zero-emissions future.”

Compared to standard marine fuels, LNG nearly eliminates air pollutant emissions, including sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particles. It also achieves a CO2 emission reduction of up to 25%. In addition, LNG will enable the development of low-carbon fuels and solutions such as green hydrogen, bio-LNG, and fuel cells. Traditional marine fuels cannot support these upcoming solutions.

MSC World Europa features a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system that reduces NOx emissions by 90% when LNG is not available and the ship must run on marine gas oil. LNG fuel achieves a similar reduction, so MSC World Europa will always meet the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) Tier III NOx emissions standards. In addition, shore-to-ship power connectivity allows MSC World Europa to minimize engine use at ports that have the required infrastructure.

As with all new MSC Cruises’ ships, MSC World Europa features the latest wastewater treatment technology to comply with the most stringent standards of IMO’s MEPC 227(64) Resolution, also known as the Baltic Standard. The ship includes an advanced ballast water treatment system that prevents the introduction of invasive species into the marine environment through ballast water discharges, in compliance with IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention.

MSC World Europa incorporates a wide range of equipment to optimize energy use throughout the ship. This includes smart ventilation and advanced air conditioning systems with automated energy recovery loops, allowing effective distribution of heat and cold across the ship. The ship uses LED lighting controlled by smart management systems to further enhance the energy-saving profile. In partnership with the shipyard, MSC World Europa has been designed with an innovative hull shape to minimize resistance through the water. It will also be fitted with enhanced automatic data collection systems for remote energy monitoring and advanced analysis, allowing real-time shoreside support to optimize operational efficiency on board.

These efficiency advances, and the use of LNG, will enable an operational performance far higher than the IMO-required energy design criteria for new ships. MSC World Europa is designed to perform 47% better than required by the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI).

MSC World Europa’s hull and engine room have been designed to minimize acoustic underwater sound impact, reducing the potential impact on marine mammals in the surrounding waters.

MSC Cruises has three firm orders for LNG-powered vessels for delivery between 2022 and 2025, representing an overall investment of more than $3 billion. MSC World Europa will be followed by MSC Euribia, which is also currently under construction in Saint Nazaire and set to enter service in 2023. Construction of the third ship is set to commence in early 2023.

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Notes to editors

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Engines and fuels:

• 5 Wärtsilä 14V 46DF engines dual-fuel engines, generally running on liquefied natural gas (LNG), and occasionally on low-sulphur marine gasoil (MGO)
• 150-kW solid oxide fuel cell demonstrator

Air Emissions:

• Selective catalytic reduction system that reduces NOx emissions by 90% when the ship runs on MGO (LNG offers a similar NOx reduction); MSC World Europa will meet IMO’s Tier III standards regardless of the fuel it uses
• Shore-to-ship power connectivity, allowing the ship to minimise engine use at ports where shore-to-ship power infrastructure is available

Wastewater treatment:

• Advanced wastewater treatment system complying with the most stringent standards on IMO’s MEPC 227(64) Resolution (the Baltic Standard)
• Advanced ballast water treatment system with UV treatment to prevent the introduction of invasive species in the marine environment through ballast water discharges, in compliance with IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention

Underwater radiated noise management system with hull and engine room designs that minimize acoustic sound impact, reducing their potential effects on marine life.

Energy Efficiency: All MSC Cruises’ newbuilds incorporate a wide range of energy efficient equipment that help reduce and optimize engine use. This includes smart ventilation and advanced air conditioning systems with automated energy recovery loops that redistribute heat and cold to reduce demand. The ships use LED lighting controlled by smart management systems to further enhance the energy saving profile. In partnership with the shipyard, MSC World Europa has been designed with an innovative hull shape to minimize resistance through the water and it will be fitted with automatic data collection systems for remote energy monitoring and advanced analysis. This will allow for real-time shoreside support to optimize operational efficiency onboard.

About MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises is the world’s third largest cruise brand as well as the leader in Europe, South America, the Gulf region and Southern Africa, with more market share in addition to deployed capacity than any other player. It is also the fastest growing global cruise brand with a strong presence in the Caribbean, North America and the Far East markets.

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, MSC Cruises is one of the two brands that sit within the Cruises Division of MSC Group, the leading privately held Swiss-based shipping and logistics conglomerate with over 300 years of maritime heritage. MSC Cruises – the contemporary brand - has a modern fleet of 19 vessels combined with a sizeable future global investment portfolio of new vessels. The fleet is projected to grow to 23 cruise ships by 2025, with options for six more vessel orders in place through 2030.

MSC Cruises offers its guests an enriching, immersive and safe cruise experience inspired by the Company’s European heritage, where they can enjoy international dining, world-class entertainment, award-winning family programs, and the very latest user-friendly technology on board. To learn more about MSC Cruises’ itineraries and experience on board its ships, click here.

The Company’s number one priority has always been the health and safety of its guests and crew, as well as the communities at the destinations its ships serve.  In August 2020, MSC Cruises implemented a new comprehensive and robust health and safety protocol to become the first major line to return to sea. To learn more about MSC Cruises’ health & safety protocol, click here.

MSC Cruises has long been committed to environmental stewardship, with a long-term goal to achieve net zero emissions for its operations by 2050. The Company is also a significant investor in next-generation environmental marine technologies, with the objective to support their accelerated development and availability industry-wide. To learn more about the Company’s environmental commitment, click here.

Finally, to learn more about the MSC Foundation, MSC Group’s own vehicle to lead, focus and advance its conservation, humanitarian and cultural commitments, click here.