Explora Journeys confirmed firm orders for two hydrogen-powered ships with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, pledging to continue its push towards a net zero-carbon emissions target by 2050.
The deal completes a total investment of €3.5 billion (CAD $5 billion) in six luxury ships for MSC's new small-ship brand.
According to the company, EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI will have new energy efficiency measures capable of using alternative fuels such as bio and synthetic gas and methanol. Explora's Cruise Division will work with Fincantieri to equip the ships with future technologies, including carbon capture and more advanced waste management systems. Explora Journeys' fleet additions will be delivered in 2027 and 2028.
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of Cruise Division, MSC Group, said, "Together with Fincantieri we will study the newest technology that the world has to offer and continue with our commitment to introduce these technologies to drive efficiencies across the whole spectrum of ship performance. And of course, we will continue to deliver the very best luxury travel experience, immersing our guests in the ocean state of mind with a sustainable soul."
Michael Ungerer, Chief Executive Officer of Explora Journeys, added, "Sustainability in luxury is the new craftmanship and our new two confirmed orders are testament to our determination to preserve and protect our precious oceans. This is what the discerning traveller of tomorrow expects so it is an absolute imperative that we not only just deliver on that anticipation, but we must and will exceed such aspirations."
To "eliminate carbon emissions," the two new ships will pursue the use of liquid hydrogen with fuel cells for their hotel operations while docked in ports with the vessels' engines switched off. The ships will also feature a new generation of LNG engines that will further tackle the issue of methane slip with the use of containment systems.
Explora said LNG is one of the world's cleanest marine fuels currently available at scale and is set to play a vital role in the transition to the decarbonization of international shipping. It reduces local air pollutant emissions, with sulphur oxides falling by up to 99% and nitrogen oxides decreasing by up to 85%. LNG also plays a key role in climate change mitigation, offering up to a 20 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Further environmental benefits are expected following the availability at scale of synthetic LNG.
Explora Journeys' first ship, EXPLORA I, was delivered by Fincantieri in JUL 2023 and is currently operating in Northern Europe. The ship will spend the autumn in North America and the winter in the Caribbean Sea. EXPLORA I will sail during the spring of 2024 off the U.S. West Coast and Hawaii before returning to Europe in the summer of 2024 for a series of journeys in the Mediterranean Sea.
EXPLORA II will enter service in the summer of 2024 and operate until APR 2025 in the Mediterranean Sea, the Middle East, the Indian Ocean and Africa, visiting 82 ports in 26 countries.
EXPLORA III will enter service in summer 2026, and construction of the LNG-powered vessel started on 06SEP 2023, with a steel-cutting ceremony.
Construction of LNG-powered EXPLORA IV will begin in JAN 2024 and will be completed in early 2027.
Explora added that all six ships in Explora Journeys' fleet will be equipped with the latest environmental and marine technologies and will also feature the latest selective catalytic reduction technology to enable a reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions by 90%, be equipped with shore power plug-in connectivity to reduce emissions in port and fitted with underwater noise management systems to help protect marine life.
The fleet will also have a range of onboard energy-efficient equipment to optimize engine use and reduce emissions.
More information on Explora Journeys' website.
