Explora Journeys has taken delivery of cruise vessel ‘Explora III’ from Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa; this is the third ship built by Fincantieri for Explora Journeys, MSC Group’s luxury ocean travel brand.
With the delivery of Explora III, three of the six vessels planned for the fleet are now in service, while the remaining three are all under construction and will enter service within the next two years – Explora IV and Explora V in 2027, followed by Explora VI in 2028.
Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and MD, Fincantieri, said: “Explora III demonstrates Fincantieri’s ability to drive the transformation of shipbuilding through innovation, sustainability and the adoption of new technologies and alternative fuels. The introduction of the first LNG-powered vessel into the fleet marks an important milestone in this journey and reflects our commitment to developing increasingly advanced and sustainable solutions. The construction of these ships demonstrates the value of an industrial ecosystem that brings together large companies, SMEs and local communities. The Sestri Ponente shipyard, together with the wider Ligurian supply chain, represents a unique concentration of expertise and skills that enables the creation of increasingly advanced vessels capable of showcasing the very best of Made in Italy excellence around the world.”
Explora III is the first vessel in the fleet – together with the ships to follow in the series – to be powered by LNG, and thus capable of reducing SOx emissions by 99%, NOx emissions by 85%, particulate matter emissions by 98% and GHG emissions by up to 20% compared with conventional marine fuels. The vessels are capable of operating on renewable and next-generation fuels, including bio-LNG, synthetic LNG and biofuels. Explora V and Explora VI will additionally feature fuel cells to generate energy more efficiently and support the industry’s pathway towards net-zero emissions, ahead of the industry’s 2050 target. All Explora vessels are equipped with shore power connectivity, enabling engines to be switched off and reducing emissions to virtually zero while in port.
Designed and built under supervision of RINA Classification Society, Explora III has received a number of additional notations recognising its environmental performance and passenger comfort. These include the Green Plus notation for high environmental standards and the Comfort Noise and Vibration notation for low onboard noise and vibration levels. The vessel has also received the Dolphin notation, recognising efforts to minimise underwater radiated noise in environmentally sensitive marine areas, as well as Polar Code C certification, enabling operations in polar regions.
Image: ‘Explora III’ has been completed by Fincantieri’s Liguran yard (source: Fincantieri Group)
