MSC Cruises to connect to shore power in 15 new ports

The cruise-arm of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has revealed plans to expand its fleet's shore power capabilities to connect to shore power in 15 new ports between 2024 and 2026.

PHOTO: MSC Cruises' LNG-powered cruise ship MSC Euribia. MSC Cruises

The plan includes at least five Italian ports; the Spanish ports of Barcelona and Valencia; the Norwegian ports of Stavanger and Norfjordied, the US port of Miami; the Danish port of Copenhagen; the French port of Marseille; the Dutch port of Rotterdam; the Maltese port of Valetta and the Swedish of Stockholm.

MSC Cruises intends for its entire cruise fleet – both MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys – to utilise shore power facilities in every port throughout Europe and the rest of the world when they are made available.

“Using shore power removes the need to keep a ship’s engine running and drastically reduces in-port emissions from the vessel,” MSC says.

67% of MSC Cruises’ fleet is equipped with shore power capability, with the installation being a standard since 2017. The company plans to retrofit more ships with shore power capability “as the ports on their sailing itineraries make shore power available.” Meanwhile, all of Explora Journeys’ ships will also be capable of connecting to shore power.

MSC Cruises ships have increasingly adopted shore power. Since February, the company has used shore power in the ports of Southampton, UK and Kristiansand, Norway. It plans to trial shore power facilities at the Norwegian port of Haugesund, Bergen and Alesund, and the German port of Warnemunde this year.

It will utilise “cold ironing” at the German ports of Hamburg and Kiel as well. Last year, MSC Cruises also inked a deal with shipping network Cruise Baltic for shore power in 32 ports in the Baltic Sea area.

By Tuhin Roy

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