Cruise Division of MSC Group and Gasum partner for LNG and renewable e-LNG

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 16 June 2023 16 June 2023

The Cruise Division of MSC Group and Gasum have signed a long-term agreement for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for MSC Cruises’ new flagship, MSC Euribia, as well as a Letter of Intent (LOI) covering cooperation on the supply of synthetic e-LNG made with renewable energy. This supports the Cruise Division’s strategy to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions from its marine operations by 2050.

MSC Cruises, the world’s third-largest cruise operator, and Nordic energy company Gasum executed the LOI with the goal of securing MSC access to liquefied synthetic gas, or e-LNG, which is produced using hydrogen created by hydrolysis with renewable energy and captured CO2. Together, Gasum and MSC Cruises are creating an actionable roadmap for cutting emissions in MSC’s cruise operations using sizeable volumes of several thousand tons of e-LNG starting in 2026.

The companies’ long-term agreement on the delivery of LNG to MSC’s new flagship MSC Euribia will see Gasum supporting MSC Cruises in cutting emissions with the immediate use of LNG.

Using LNG removes nearly all sulfur oxide and particle emissions, greatly reduces nitrogen oxide emissions and significantly lowers greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, LNG technology on board enables MSC Cruises to switch at any time to fully renewable liquefied biogas (bio-LNG) or synthetic gas (e-LNG), in order to reach greenhouse gas emissions reductions of up to 100 percent.

MSC Euribia recently demonstrated that emissions-neutral cruising is already possible by sailing the first ever net zero greenhouse gas emissions voyage thanks to the emissions reductions allowed by liquefied biogas procured by Gasum. The ship sailed for four days from Saint-Nazaire, France to Copenhagen, Denmark and utilized bio-LNG with a mass-balance approach, the most environmentally efficient method of delivering the benefits of renewable biogas. MSC Cruises purchased over 400 tons of bio-LNG from Gasum to show its commitment to the deployment of drop-in renewable fuels and energy transition measures toward the pioneering voyage. MSC Cruises is the industry’s first deep sea ocean cruise operator to buy bio-LNG and achieve significant lifecycle emissions reductions as a result.

Linden Coppell, Vice President of Sustainability and ESG for MSC Cruises, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Gasum on our journey to net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Securing a reliable supply of LNG and e-LNG is of critical importance to our decarbonization efforts, and the LOI and long-term agreement that we have announced today are significant steps on that journey. Partnering with Gasum will enable us to access new and cleaner fuels needed to make net zero cruising a reality. We need more suppliers like Gasum to step up and support our industry with its environmental targets. We are ready and waiting to buy more of these new fuels.”

Mika Wiljanen, CEO of Gasum, stated: “As an alternative fuel supplier dedicated to the energy transition, Gasum is proud to offer support to MSC Cruises, a major maritime player, in their quest to improve the environmental footprint of their operations. At the same time, MSC Cruises is supporting the development of the most promising alternative fuel by proving a demand for it. This LOI on e-LNG is a landmark agreement for the shipping industry as it demonstrates that e-LNG will be available to the maritime transport sector within a short timeframe. We are also very happy about the long-term LNG supply agreement which we believe is the start of long-lasting cooperation.”

What is e-LNG or synthetic gas

E-LNG gas can be produced synthetically through the Power-to-Gas process. First, hydrogen is produced from water using renewable electricity sourced from wind, solar or other options. The hydrogen can then be further processed into methane by adding non-fossil carbon dioxide obtained from carbon capture.

This resulting synthetic renewable methane gas is fully interchangeable with natural gas and biogas. When it is liquefied it is likewise fully interchangeable with LNG and liquified biogas, meaning it can be transported through existing infrastructure – trucks, ships, pipelines – and use existing gas grids.

Synthetic gas can be fed directly at any ratio into dual fuel engines installed on existing ships, which currently run on natural gas, biogas, LNG or liquefied biogas. There is no need for any additional investments in new equipment or modifications.

Unlike alternative fuels such as ammonia or methanol which are still in the development stage both in terms of production and infrastructure, synthetic gas, or e-LNG, is a concrete pathway to decarbonizing maritime and land transportation in the next few years.

Gasum’s strategic goal is to bring seven terawatt hours (7 TWh) of renewable gas to market each year by 2027. Achieving this goal would mean a cumulative annual carbon dioxide reduction of 1.8 million tons for Gasum’s customers.

Cruise Division of MSC Group expands its shore power plan

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 16 June 2023 16 June 2023

The Cruise Division of MSC Group has unveiled details surrounding the next phase of its shore power plan. Ships will be able to plug into shoreside electricity grids in at least 15 new ports between 2024 and 2026, furthering progress toward decarbonization and reducing emissions from the company’s fleet of ships while berthed.

The new 2024-2026 shore power plan includes Miami, along with Barcelona and Valencia, Spain; Stavanger and Norfjordied, Norway; Copenhagen, Denmark; Marseille, France; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Valletta, Malta; Stockholm, Sweden; and at least five Italian ports.

The Company intends for all ships belonging to MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys to fully utilize shore power facilities at all other ports they visit once available.

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

MSC Cruises’ ships have successfully used shore power at the ports of Southampton, UK and Kristiansand, Norway since February 2023. Later this summer, the company will test the facilities at the Norwegian port of Haugesund. Other European trials are planned this year at Bergen and Alesund in Norway and Warnemunde in Germany.

MSC Cruises will also use shore power in the German ports of Hamburg this winter and Kiel during the summer of 2024.

MSC Cruises signed a memorandum of understanding with Cruise Baltic last year for shore power in the Baltic Sea area. Cruise Baltic has 32 ports and destinations in its region that are committed to increasing the number of shore power facilities available.

Shore power capability has been fitted on all of MSC Cruises’ new ships since 2017. Together with retrofits completed on other vessels, 67% of MSC Cruises’ total capacity is equipped with the technology. More ships will be retrofitted as the ports on their respective itineraries make shore power available.

All of Explora Journeys’ ships will include shore power capabilities. EXPLORA I, the first ship in the new brand’s fleet, will enter service on July 17.

Linden Coppell, VP Sustainability & ESG, MSC Cruises, said: “Shore power is an important factor on our journey toward net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) 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 port. 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. By making major reductions to emissions in ports, we are fulfilling our responsibility to the ports and coastal communities that our ships visit and serve. Together with the use of LNG fuel, improving energy efficiency, utilizing innovative wastewater treatment and waste recycling, we are making positive strides in playing our part to address climate change and protect ocean biodiversity.”

MSC Cruises’ latest flagship, MSC Euribia, features the most energy-efficient cruise ship design ever and performed an industry-first earlier this month when she sailed from France to Denmark and demonstrated the potential to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions on a cruise through the use of renewable bio-LNG.

Celestyal Cruises appoints Janet Parton to develop business in UK, Europe and Australia

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 16 June 2023 16 June 2023

Celestyal Cruises, the Athens based company which focuses on destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean , has appointed Janet Parton as VP Business Development manager for the UK, Europe and Australia, the company said in a statement.

She has worked in the travel industry for more than 20 years, including at the Globus group and MSC Cruises.

Celestyal Cruises is growing its business as it recently acquired a ship that had been built in 1992 as Ryndam of Holland America Line. After a refit, it will join the Celestyal Crystal that is of similar vintage and Celestyal Olympia that dates back to 1982 with a new name of Celestyal Journey. The refit will cost about $20 million and the ship is due to enter service in September.

AIDA Cruises highlights barrier free travel for people with special needs

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 16 June 2023 16 June 2023

AIDA Cruises, the German unit in the Carnival group, said people with special needs should be able to travel on the company’s ships and that it is working to lower the barriers to ensure that as many as possible could do this.

“In order to continuously optimize the barrier-free travel experience both ashore and on board, the company is constantly breaking new ground, for example with the establishment of the Expert Council under the patronage of Kristina Vogel in April 2022. The Expert Council includes, among others, people with limited walking, visual or hearing abilities, who advise the cruise company from the perspective of a wide range of guest and interest groups,” the company said in a statement.

Specially trained AIDA employees are available to guests with individual impairments for personal travel advice and almost all public areas of the AIDA ships, such as bars, restaurants, lifts, outdoor decks, public toilets and cabins are accessible without barriers and equipped with orientation signage in profile and Braille.

“A barrier-free meeting on the first day of travel ensures proper orientation on board. Here, all questions about excursions, restaurant reservations, individual assistance, equipment rental and much more are answered,” the Rostock based company said.

The barrier-free balcony and inside cabins are perfectly designed to meet the needs of guests with physical disabilities. “A wider, inward-opening automatic door, for example, ensures that the personal oasis of well-being can be reached with ease. Plenty of space for your travel wardrobe and other utensils can be found in the spacious wardrobe, whose clothes rails you can easily reach by means of a lift system,” AIDA pointed out.

The bathroom is comfortable thanks to a height-adjustable sink and a ground-level and shower with shower seat also barrier-free. “If desired, a deaf set with vibration alarm function and pager can be installed in all cabins - for haptic alarm signals, calls, wake-up calls or door signals,” the company noted.

Numerous aids can be borrowed on board, for example wheelchairs and walkers, shower stools and toilet seat raisers, mobile grab bars for the sanitary area and deaf set (signal system).

Many restaurants on board are barrier-free. The paths to and at the buffet are wide enough for wheelchair users to move around and serve themselves comfortably. Several tables are reserved near the entrance area for guests with mobility impairments up to half an hour after the restaurant opens.

All restaurants are prepared for allergies or food intolerances and guests with limited hearing are provided with reserved seating at shows where acoustic signals are amplified for hearing aids and implants with tele-coils or inductive receivers.

“AIDA's excursion program specifically identifies excursions that are suitable for guests with limited walking ability. To find the optimal shore excursion, these are divided into five levels of difficulty,” the company stated.