Explora Journeys signaled confidence in the future by confirming its orders for two hydrogen-powered ships to complete its fleet of six. And it pledged to continue its push towards a net zero-carbon emissions target by 2050 by investigating additional new and advanced environmental technologies for its luxury ships.
EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI will have new state-of-the-art energy efficiency measures and will also be capable of using alternative fuels such as bio and synthetic gas and methanol. The Cruise Division will work in the future with Fincantieri shipyards in Italy to equip the ships with future technologies including carbon capture, and more advanced waste management systems. The two confirmed additions to Explora Journeys’ fleet will be delivered in 2027 and 2028.
The new ships will pursue the use of liquid hydrogen with fuel cells for their hotel operations while docked in ports to eliminate carbon emissions with the vessels’ engines switched off. The ships will also feature a new generation of liquified natural gas engines.
LNG is one of the world’s cleanest marine fuels currently available at scale and is set to play a key role in the transition to the decarbonization of international shipping. It substantially reduces local air pollutant emissions with sulphur oxides falling by up to 99 per cent and nitrogen oxides decreasing by up to 85 per cent. LNG also plays a key role in climate change mitigation as it offers up to a 20 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Further environmental benefits are expected following the availability at scale of synthetic LNG.
Explora Journeys’ first ship, EXPLORA I entered service in July 2023 and is currently operating in Northern Europe. The ship will spend the autumn in North America, and the winter in the Caribbean. She will sail during the spring 2024 off the U.S. West Coast and Hawaii before returning to Europe in summer 2024 for a series of journeys in the Mediterranean.
EXPLORA II will enter service in summer 2024 and will cruise in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Indian Ocean and Africa visiting 82 ports in 26 countries. Construction has also begun on EXPLORA III, due in 2026.
“With Explora Journeys we have created a luxury brand that has been successful at redefining luxury at sea. We are seeing continued growth in the luxury segment and the investment in these two new ships shows our commitment to continue to grow within this sector as well as to invest in ships of the future,” commented Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Group”s Cruise Division.
