Shorepower switched on in Malta
The cruise liner MSC World Europa was the first vessel to benefit from Malta’s shore power connection in Valletta, which was officially inaugurated by the Maltese prime minister.
PM Robert Abela toured the vessel while it used power from the local grid to keep its on-board systems going instead of its engines, which were switched off.
The 22-deck MSC World Europa is powered by LNG, says MSC, and operates seven-night cruises around Malta, Spain, France and Italy.
It is one of 22 vessels operated by MSC Cruises, which says it will equip 16 of them to receive shore-side electricity by the end of this year.
The company says there will be 220 shore power connections among its fleet at destinations in China, Norway, Germany, the UK and Malta. MSC Cruises will use local electricity grids wherever the connections are installed, it says.
MSC appears to be on a mission to equip its ports with shore power capability, and aims to add 15 more to its plan between 2024 and 2026, it says, including Barcelona, Hamburg, Valencia, Marseille, Copenhagen, Genoa, La Spezia and Naples.
It will also install it at the new cruise terminal due to open in Miami next year.
“MSC Cruises has categorised its strategy to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 for its marine operations into three pillars of activity: ship and engine technology – which includes shore power connectivity – operational efficiency and renewable fuels,” it says.
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