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MSC Cruises and Eni Prove Biofuel’s Readiness for Cruise Ship Engines

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MSC Cruises and Eni Prove Biofuel’s Readiness for Cruise Ship Engines

MSC Opera Photo Credit Spacejunkie2 Flickr Account https://flic.kr/ps/GkiQt

Testing by Eni and MSC Cruises has confirmed the technical feasibility of using biofuel in its pure form to power cruise ship engines, the cruise line said in a press release. 

During the tests with Enilive’s HVO (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil) diesel, one of the MSC Opera’s engines was powered for approximately 2,000 hours with pure HVO. 

No engine modifications were made, while performance and emissions data were recorded. 

The test demonstrated that HVO can be used for marine engines with no technological upgrades needed, with performance staying in line with traditional marine fossil fuels. 

Michele Francioni, Chief Energy Transition Officer of MSC Cruises, said:” We are very pleased to have satisfactorily confirmed the technical feasibility of 100% HVO on our cruise ship as part of our continuous decarbonization efforts. 

“We believe HVO may play an important role in the decarbonization of shipping and together with other immediately available fuels such as LNG and bio-LNG, constitutes an immediate opportunity that could be deployed onboard cruise ships to accelerate the transition towards renewable fuels, bringing us a step closer to our ultimate goal of reaching net zero GHG emissions by 2050”. 

According to the press release, the test recorded lower emissions of both NOx (16 percent) and particulate, as well as a reduction in GHG emissions inherent to the origin of the HVO product of around 80 percent compared to the use of traditional fuel. 

The reduction is said to be due to the usage of 100 percent biogenic feedstocks in the HVO production process. 

Technical data on engine performance and associated emissions were collected and assessed with the support of Wärtsilä as the engine manufacturer, and Bureau Veritas, which independently validated the results. 

Stefano Ballista, CEO of Enilive, noted that his company’s marine HVO diesel has been available at the ports of Genoa, Ravenna and Venice for direct delivery from the terminal to vessels via barge for several months. 

He described the fuel as a viable solution for the decarbonization of maritime transport.

MSC Cruises and Fincantieri mark float out of MSC Seascape

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169,400-gt MSC Seascape will be able to accommodate up to 5,877 guests with 13,000 m2 of outdoor space (source: Fincantieri)MSC Seascape will be delivered in November 2022 from Fincantieri, the second Seaside EVO-class ship to enter the MSC Cruises fleet, and the fourth vessel in the line’s Seaside class
MSC Cruises executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said, “The float out of MSC Seascape marks yet another significant milestone in the growth of our fleet and the vessel will pay homage to the oceans through yet another host of highly innovative maritime and design features.“We have continued with our ambitious new build plans in spite of the pandemic, and today is a double celebration for MSC as our next flagship MSC Seascape is floated out into water simultaneously as its sister ship MSC Seashore is officially named at our private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.


“MSC Seascape – together with MSC Seashore – features some of the latest environmental technologies and solutions to minimise its impact on the environment which will help us take a further step forward towards realising our ambition of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050”.Fincantieri chief executive Giuseppe Bono said, “Such an imposing ship makes it even more suggestive to reflect on the enormous work behind its construction. We began the work on MSC Seascape almost concurrently with the onset of the emergency and today, together with an established operator like MSC, we celebrate its float-out in line with pre-pandemic plans. The great determination in respecting production commitments and preserving the entire orderbook has become the hallmark of our Group, an authentic cornerstone of the culture of the company, and there could not be a better precondition for looking to the future with renewed confidence”.169,400-gt MSC Seascape will be able to accommodate up to 5,877 guests with 13,000 m2 of outdoor space.MSC Seascape’s environmental technologies will include selective catalytic reduction systems on each of its four Wärtsilä 14V 46F engines to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 90% by converting the gas into harmless nitrogen and water, plus hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems to remove 98% of sulphur oxide from ship emissions.


Fincantieri added in a statement that the vessel is fitted with best-in-class wastewater treatment systems with purification standards that are higher than most wastewater treatment facilities on land, advanced waste management systems, ballast water treatment systems approved by the US Coast Guard, the latest-technology systems for the prevention of oil discharges from machinery spaces and various effective energy-efficiency improvements – from heat recovery systems to LED lighting able to save energy. The ship will also feature an underwater radiated noise management system to reduce and isolate the potential effects on marine mammals.

Brittany Ferries launches first LNG-powered ferry to serve the UK

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Salamanca, the newest LNG-powered addition to Brittany Ferries’ fleet took to the water for the first time on 6 January 2021 at China Merchants Jinling shipyard in Weihai, China, where it is under construction.

Thesecond of three E-Flexer-class ships ordered by Brittany Ferries, 42,000-gt Salamanca will join sister ship Galicia which entered service in December 2020. The 215-m vessel will serve a long-distance route connecting the UK with Spain and will carry 1,015 passengers, with over 2.7 km of lane-space to house passenger and freight vehicles.

Salamanca features two Wärtsilä 12V46DF engines generating 13,740 kW each. Electricity production onboard comes with low CO2 emissions and alternators installed on shaft lines produce energy even at low speeds.

All the E-Flexer vessels have been designed with a view to improving the environmental impact and improving efficiency with particular attention given to fuel-efficient propulsion plants and a long, slender hull and bow design. The underwater hull features a friction-reducing silicon paint coating which further reduces fuel consumption while the propeller and rudder design bring improved manoeuvrability.

Bow thrusters work in harmony with articulated rudders, making it possible to facilitate tight turns in the harbour and the system dispenses with the need for stern thrusters. Fin stabilisers minimise roll and reduce vibration.

The newbuild is part of the ferry operator’s fleet renewal strategy as part of a larger five-year recovery plan. While Brittany Ferries said the investment in new ships was made well before the Covid-19 pandemic began, the strategy is expected to help future-proof services by ensuring the continuity of passenger and freight services with a trio of cleaner, more efficient and comfortable vessels.

President Jean-Marc Roué said “In spite of Brexit and Covid which have cost our company several hundred million euros already, I am resolved to remain on our path towards eco-responsibility and energy transition. It is a formal commitment I’ve made: we will continue, despite these crises, to reduce our carbon footprint, to keep on improving our fleet and to contribute to the development of the regions we serve. Salamanca is a good illustration of this. By renewing our fleet today, we are ensuring a return to growth tomorrow and Brittany Ferries and our partners remain confident in the future.”

The facilities for storing LNG will be supplied by Repsol in Spain. Under the terms of the agreement, the fuel company will build two quayside LNG bunkering terminals in the ports of Santander and Bilbao, including a 1,000-m3 storage tank to ensure uninterrupted supply for Salamanca and a future vessel Santoña.

“Passengers expect more comfortable, cleaner, greener vessels and society rightly demands sustainability as a standard. Shipping companies that fail to improve are therefore destined to fail,” said Brittany Ferries chief executive Christophe Mathieu.

“It’s why these E-Flexer ships are so important as we look to emerge from the current crisis. Galicia, Salamanca and Santoña are clear evidence that we are determined to sail towards a sustainable and a successful future.”

Salamanca will join the above mentioned Galicia in 2022 and the third LNG ferry Santoña will follow in 2023.