MSC Group has unveiled details of the next phase of its shore power plan.

At least 15 new ports between 2024 and 2026 will be added for vessels to plug into shoreside electricity grids.

The plan includes at least five Italian ports; Barcelona and Valencia in Spain; Stavanger and Norfjordied, Norway; Miami, USA; Copenhagen, Denmark; Marseille, France; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Valletta, Malta and Stockholm, Sweden.

In a statement, MSC said that ships from MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys will “fully utilise shore power facilities at all other ports where it operates throughout Europe and the rest of the world when they are made available”.

Since February 2023, MSC Cruises’ ships have used shore power at the ports of Southampton and Kristiansand, Norway and later this summer the company will test the facilities at the Norwegian port of Haugesund.

Other European trials this year are planned for a range of ships at Bergen and Alesund in Norway and Warnemunde in Germany.

In addition, last year the cruise line signed a memorandum of understanding with Cruise Baltic for shore power in the Baltic Sea area.

Cruise Baltic has 32 ports and destinations in its region “that are committed to increase the number of shore power facilities”, the statement added.

All ships in the Explora Journeys fleet will also feature shore power capabilities.

MSC making ‘positive strides’

MSC Cruises vice-president of sustainability Linden Coppell said: “Shore power is an important factor on our journey towards net zero greenhouse gas operations.

“All of our newbuilds since 2017 are equipped with the ability to plug into local power grids and we are rolling out retrofits on the other vessels in our fleet.

“Our shore power plan actively demonstrates our ambition and that we are fully committed to reduce emissions from our ships, including while in ports.

“We have invested heavily in hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems to substantially reduce local air quality emissions and we now need more ports across Europe and beyond to introduce shore power as quickly as possible.

“Together with the use of LNG fuel, improving energy efficiency, utlilising innovative wastewater treatment and waste recycling, we are making positive strides in playing our part to address climate change and protect ocean biodiversity.”