MSC Cruises has confirmed the order of two new liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered vessels with French ship builder Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
This sees the two World class options confirmed as firm orders, with the option of a fifth ship. The two new ordered vessels – currently referred to as World Class 3 and 4 – will be delivered in 2026 and 2027.
They will join the line’s other World class vessels, World Europa and World America, offering an evolution of the prototype with solutions to maximise energy efficiency with the use of heat recovery and other technological solutions.
In addition, the new ships will be ready for a variety of alternative fuels including bio and synthetic methane and green methanol. The ships will also be fitted with the next generation dual fuel internal combustion engines with reduced methane slip.
MSC Cruises World class a ‘truly innovative prototype’
MSC Cruises executive chair Pierfrancesco Vago said: “We are proud to continue our 20-year partnership with the Chantiers de l’Atlantique, with whom we have already built 18 ships with our 19th under construction.
“The World class is a truly innovative prototype and together we are building some of the most advanced ships in the world. We are committed to researching and investing in future environmental technologies as they become available, to ensure we continue progressing on our decarbonisation journey to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.”
The new World Class vessels will feature shore power plug-in connectivity to reduce carbon emissions in port, what MSC claims will be the “most advanced” wastewater treatment systems designed in line with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), new advances in waste management, and a range of onboard energy efficient equipment.