MSC Cruises to reduce fleetwide emissions with itinerary planning tool

August 6, 2024, by Aida Čučuk

MSC Cruises, the cruise division of Swiss shipping giant MSC Group, has introduced a new itinerary planning optimization tool OptiCruise, expected to reduce MSC Cruises’ fleetwide emissions by up to 15% by 2026.

The new mathematical model is a part of the European Union’s funded Project CHEK, which was established to investigate and trial several low-carbon shipping opportunities including energy technologies and innovative ship designs. It was developed in collaboration with OPTIMeasy, a research company affiliated with the University of Genoa.

OPTIMeasy examined numerous factors that influence the planning of each of MSC Cruises’ itineraries to achieve the optimum level of efficiency for sailing while maintaining or enhancing guest satisfaction, MSC said, adding:

“OptiCruise broadens the scope substantially to include numerous other aspects which influence an itinerary’s efficiency, including sequencing of the port calls, departure and arrival times at ports, a ship’s speed, the appeal and attractiveness of destinations for a holidaymaker, shore excursions, and operational costs such as fuel, port charges and food provisions.”

According to MSC, the technology’s benefits will be evidenced in 2026 when the cruise line’s fleet will number 24 ships. MSC Bellissima was chosen to evaluate the prototype technology over a 12-month period as the ship sailed between 17 ports in the Mediterranean Sea.

Michele Francioni, Chief Energy Transition Officer at MSC Cruises, commented: “We have identified and developed this new technology to optimise the decision-making process of itinerary planning with the aim to further reduce emissions across our fleet from 2026.”

“The OPTIMeasy team calculates that the average fuel savings made, and emissions reduced by using OptiCruise are in the range of 10-15 per cent which is a significant step forward in our ambition to achieve our net zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2050 for our marine operations.”

To note, MSC Cruises’ strategy to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 for its marine operations is focused on three key areas: ship and engine technology, operational efficiency and renewable fuels. OptiCruise comes under the operational efficiency focus.

In other recent news, MSC World Europa, an LNG-powered cruise ship owned by MSC Cruises, officially inaugurated a shore power facility in Valletta, Malta. Furthermore, MSC unveiled further commitments to the Port of Hamburg.