MSC Cruises, Shell Partner to fuel cruise ship MSC Euribia with LNG

Switzerland-based MSC Cruises and Shell Western LNG have entered into an agreement for Shell to provide LNG for the MSC Euribia, MSC Cruises' flagship cruise ship, MSC Cruises said on October 19. The first bunkering operation recently took place in Rotterdam.

MSC Euribia is currently operating seven-night cruises until April 2024 in northern Europe from Hamburg to Rotterdam, Zeebrugge, Le Havre and Southampton before returning to the north German port.

MSC Cruises said it is committed to reducing its environmental impact and has invested €3bn in three LNG-powered cruise ships. The MSC Euribia is the second of these ships to enter service.

Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises, said that LNG is an important step forward in the company's ambition to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. He added that the company is looking forward to using carbon-neutral bio-LNG and synthetic LNG in the future.

Tahir Faruqui, general manager of Shell Global Downstream LNG, said that the agreement with MSC Cruises illustrates how LNG can provide shipping companies with a scalable path to net-zero emissions. He added that Shell is prepared to support major players like MSC Cruises on their energy transition.

LNG is a cleaner-burning fuel than traditional marine fuels, such as heavy fuel oil. It is also more efficient, meaning that ships can travel further on a single LNG tank than on a tank of heavy fuel oil. This can help to reduce fuel costs and emissions.