MSC Welcomes Malta PM Aboard World Europe in Valletta
Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela visited the MSC World Europa ship in Valletta on July 10, where the port inaugurated a new shore power facility, the first of its kind in the Mediterranean.
During the visit, the local power grid in Valletta provided electricity for all operations on the MSC World Europa while the ship was docked. This allowed the engines to be turned off, reducing direct emissions at the port to improve air quality in the area.
Captain Stefano Battinelli guided the Prime Minister and other Maltese government officials on a tour of the 22-deck LNG-powered ship. Michele Francioni, MSC Cruises’ Chief Energy Transition Officer, also discussed the company’s strategy to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 for its marine operations.
The MSC World Europa is currently offering seven-night cruises between Malta, Spain, France, and Italy in 2024 and 2025.
Michele Francioni expressed the importance of shore power in MSC Cruises’ commitment to decarbonization, with the goal of equipping 16 out of 22 vessels with shore power connections by the end of 2024. This initiative aims to reduce local emissions in ports where the ships are docked by using electricity from the shore instead of the ship’s engines.
The Prime Minister of Malta was impressed by the country’s leadership in implementing shore power in the Mediterranean, a major market for cruise holidays. MSC Cruises looks forward to more ports in the region and globally adopting shore power technology to further reduce emissions in ports.
