MSC takes delivery of Explora III, a luxury cruise ship powered by LNG

A new ship for the luxury ocean-cruise brand Explora Journeys, part of the MSC Group. The Explora III, built by Fincantieri and the first in the series to be powered by liquefied natural gas, has been delivered to the shipowner at the Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa. With this vessel, whose godmother is Maya Aponte, the 14-year-old daughter of Diego Aponte, chairman of MSC, the fleet has reached half the number of ships currently planned. Three ships are already in service, whilst three more are under construction (also at Fincantieri) and are due to be delivered within the next two years: Explora IV and Explora V in 2027, and Explora VI in 2028. The total value of the contract amounts to 3.5 billion euros.

“The delivery of Explora III,” emphasised Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of the MSC Group’s cruise division, “marks another important milestone in the realisation of our vision for Explora Journeys. In just three years, we have defined a new and distinctive approach to ocean travel. “I have always believed that the world’s most valuable real estate is at sea. No hotel on land can offer the same ever-changing vistas, the same thrill of arrival, or the privilege of waking up every morning in a different place.”

The addition to the fleet of the first ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), added Fincantieri’s chief executive, Pierroberto Folgiero, “marks a significant milestone in this journey”. All six Explora Journeys vessels, built entirely in Italia by the Italian shipbuilding giant, are expected to generate an economic impact of over 15 billion on the Italian economy, thanks to the total investment made by MSC, according to a statement. Explora III can use renewable fuels such as bio-LNG, synthetic LNG and biofuels, and can connect to the onshore electricity grid whilst at berth (cold ironing).