Are yachts next in line to step up their sustainability game? We’d say yes! Explora Journeys, the luxury travel brand of the Cruise Division of MSC Group, and Fincantier (also one of the biggest shipbuilding groups) are well-known for curating a range of extraordinary pursuits and destination experiences for your Ocean Journey. Foraying into the eco-conscious space, it recently announced two new luxury hydrogen-powered ships that will come into service in 2027 and 2028. While the fleet of Explora Journeys will have a total of six ships, the first two are already under construction as Explora V and VI.
Photo Courtesy: Explora Journeys
The newly-revealed vessels Explora V and VI will be built in partnership with internationally-renowned Italian yard Fincantieri and will be equipped with industry-first green technology. Explora Journeys Explora V and VI will feature a new generation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines that tackle the issue of methane slip and will also be equipped with industry-first environmental technologies and solutions that will enable them to use low-carbon fuel. Working on the promise to have zero emissions the ship will use hydrogen fuel that will power a six-megawatt fuel cell to produce emissions-free power for the hotel operation and allow the vessels to run on zero emissions in port, with the engines turned off.
In a public statement by the brand, Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of the Cruise Division of MSC Group, said, “Explora Journeys is building ships for tomorrow, utilising today’s latest technologies and being ready to adapt to alternative energy solutions as they become available. The announcement today marks another significant step forward in our goal as a business to reach net zero emissions by 2050 across all our cruise operations for the two brands.”
Photo Courtesy: Explora Journeys
All six ships in Explora Journeys fleet will be equipped with the latest environmental and marine technologies. The ships will also feature the latest technology to enable a reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions by 90 per cent and a comprehensive range of onboard energy-efficient equipment to optimise engine use to further reduce emissions.
