Fincantieri to launch world’s first cruise ships utilizing hydrogen power

Thursday, July 7, 2022

MSC Group’s luxury travel brand, Explora Journeys, and shipbuilding group Fincantieri announced today that they have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the construction of two of the world’s first luxury cruise ships to utilize hydrogen-based power.

The new EXPLORA V and VI cruise ships will feature liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines that will address the methane slip issue and will use industry-first environmental technologies, such as a containment system for liquid hydrogen that will enable them to use this fuel.

Hydrogen fuel will power a 6 MW fuel cell to produce emissions-free power for the hotel operation and will allow the vessels to operate on zero emissions in port, with the engines turned off.

LNG is currently the cleanest marine fuel available at scale and it nearly eliminates local air pollutant emissions like sulphur oxides by 99%, nitrogen oxides by 85%, and particles by 98%.

LNG also plays an important role in climate change mitigation, with the engines potentially reducing CO2 emissions by up to 25% compared to standard marine fuels.

Pierroberto Folgiero, Chief Executive Officer of Fincantieri, commented that this is the very first major agreement for new construction after the pandemic emergency.

The agreement testifies not only to the further growth of their long-standing partnership with MSC, which they thank, but also the confidence of both groups in the future of the cruise industry.

These ships will allow us to implement cutting-edge technologies aimed at significantly improving environmental performance, laying the foundations for further developments.

The addition of cruise ships V and VI brings the total number of ships in Explora Journey’s fleet to six. The company’s previously announced vessels EXPLORA III and IV will also be powered by LNG.

The two ships will be enlarged by 19 meters to enable the installation of a new generation system based on LNG and hydrogen.

Michael Ungerer, Chief Executive Officer, Explora Journeys, added, that these bold moves to amend their construction plans, make significant additional investment in current orders and confirm orders for two more vessels with new technology despite the economic environment are something only a family company can do.

This also demonstrates unequivocally our absolute commitment to operate ships that will appeal and attract the next and future generations of luxury travellers.

All six ships in the Explora Journeys’ fleet will feature a selective catalytic reduction technology to allow for a reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions by 90%, will be equipped with shore power-plug connectivity to reduce emissions in port, and fitted with underwater noise management systems to help protect marine life.

In addition, all six vessels will have onboard energy efficiency equipment to optimize engine use to further cut emissions.

The two new cruise ships are expected to come into service in 2027 and 2028, respectively.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of the Cruise Division of MSC Group, said, that the announcement today marks another significant step forward in our goal as a business to reach net zero emissions by 2050 across all their cruise operation for the two brands and a further proof of their commitment to invest in the most advanced marine environmental technologies available to develop sustainable solutions for the future.

This transition to zero emissions operations for the maritime industry is the biggest challenge that they will ever face, and this will only be achieved by everyone playing their part – by investing in research and development and through significant investment both by companies but also governments.

However, union sources revealed late on Wednesday night that “extensive talks” with the airline had taken place, leaving the prospect of the strike dates announcement in doubt.

The airline has not been able to rule out making even greater curbs to flights in the event that strikes go ahead.

It is able to do so, without risk of penalty including the loss of take-off and landing slots, until the close of business on Friday when a government amnesty expires.

The move is aimed at giving passengers certainty over their flights, preventing a repeat of the scenes witnessed over Easter and the Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday when airports and airlines failed to cope with high demand.

BA said that the government recently decided to give the whole industry slot alleviation to minimise potential disruption this summer.

While taking further action is not where they wanted to be, it’s the right thing to do for their customers and their colleagues.

This new flexibility means that we can further reduce their schedule and consolidate some of our quieter services so that we can protect as many of our holiday flights as possible.

While most of their flights are unaffected and the majority of customers will get away as planned, they don’t underestimate the impact this will have and they’re doing everything they can to get their travel plans back on track.

They are in touch to apologise and offer rebooking options for new flights with us or another airline as soon as possible or issue a full refund.

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