ShareInauguration of the largest LNG-powered cruise ship
In November 2022, MSC Cruises held a naming ceremony for MSC World Europa, the world’s largest LNG-powered cruise ship and one of the first to incorporate fuel cell technology.
Built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, MSC World Europa is currently docked at the Grand Cruise Terminal in Doha, Qatar, operating as a vast floating hotel for the duration of the FIFA 2022 World Cup.The ship measures 333 m in length and features 20 decks. It offers 2,626 passenger cabins giving it a capacity of 6,762 passengers with a crew of 2,138.
MSC World Europa is the world’s largest LNG-powered cruise ship. Compared to standard marine fuels, LNG nearly eliminates air pollutant emissions such as sulphur oxides and fine particles, reduces nitrogen oxides by up to 85%, and achieves a CO2 reduction of up to 25%, according to MSC Cruises. In addition to a dual-fuel power plant using LNG or Marine Gas Oil, it is equipped with a shore-to-ship power system, enabling ships to turn off their engines and connect to local electric power to run their onboard systems.
The MSC World Europa also incorporates a wide range of equipment to optimise energy use throughout the ship. These include smart ventilation and advanced air conditioning systems, with automated energy recovery loops, allowing effective distribution of heat and cold across the ship.
Moreover, the MSC World Europa is the world’s first contemporary cruise ship to feature a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology powered by liquefied natural gas. The ship is outfitted with a 150-kilowatt SOFC demonstrator that will use LNG to produce electricity and heat by means of an electrochemical reaction. According to the companies, it will be a test bed to accelerate the development of fuel cell technology for contemporary cruise ships and offers the potential to enable hybrid propulsion solutions in the future.
Sources
https://www.offshore-energy.biz/worlds-largest-lng-powered-cruise-ship-christened/
https://www.msccruises.com/en-gl/Assets/our-sustainability-story.pdf
Credits image: MSC cruise ship. Public domain, for illustration purpose only