MSC Group’s Cruise Division and Fincantieri have celebrated, at the Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genova, three key moments in marine tradition and in the building of the “Explora Journeys” fleet, a luxury lifestyle brand launched recently by MSC and which currently includes six vessels, the first of which was delivered in July 2023: the delivery of the Explora II, the coin ceremony for the Explora III, and the plate cutting of the Explora IV.

All built in Italy by Fincantieri, these ships required an overall investment of over 3.5 billion euros from MSC, of which 500 million were used for the Explora II. The impact of that kind of investment on the country’s economy is over 15 billion euros, guaranteeing a positive effect on the entire chain and thousands of jobs. The construction of each individual unit requires over seven million work hours and an average employment of 2500 people for 2/3 years.

The Explora Journeys ships are highly innovative in both design and technology, and represent the best of Italian skill and talent, splendid “ambassadors” in the oceans of the world. MSC, like Fincantieri, is working hard on innovation, on research and development, and the units of the luxury segment are no exception.

Four of these, including the Explora III and Explora IV, will be fuelled by liquid natural gas (LNG) and all the units are ready to use bio-LNG and renewable synthetic LNG once these are available for large scale marine use. Even the last two ships, the Explora V and Explora VI (delivery planned for 2027 and 2028), will use LNG fuel, and currently there is a design project to equip them with large fuel cells capable of transforming renewable LNG into hydrogen, further reducing emissions.

Designed and built under supervision of RINA, Explora II has obtained a number of certificates, including “Green Plus” for its high environmental performance, “Comfort Noise and Vibration”, for its low levels of noise and vibration, and “Dolphin”, which recognized the high reduction in overall noise produced to protect ecologically sensitive marine areas, not to mention the Polar Code C certificate, allowing the ship to cruise in polar regions.

Participating in the ceremony was Edoardo Rixi, vice-minister of Infrastructure and Transport, the mayor of Genova, Marco Bucci, Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of the Cruise Division for MSC Group, Biagio Mazzotta and Pierriberto Folgiero, respectively, president and CEO and general manager of Fincantieri and Luigi Matarazzo, general manager of the Mercantile Ships Division.

“The Explora Journeys ships – said Rixi – represent the best in naval engineering and design. Fincantieri’s contribution has been fundamental is building these innovative ships, which respond to the highest standards in quality and reliability, further consolidating Italy’s position among the global leaders in the shipbuilding industry.”

Explora II

“We are proud to continue growing in the luxury segment – noted Vago – by taking delivery, today, of the second of six Explora Journeys ships, while the third and fourth are already under construction in this shipyard. These units represent a combination of innovation and sustainability and are part of an important expansion plan for our new European luxury brand. These also reinforce our long-time partnership with Fincantieri, which began 10 years ago, and now includes the delivery of another four ships by 2028, in addition to the six delivered up until now. The construction of the Explora Journeys ships plays a decisive role both locally, reinforcing the shipbuilding sector and economy in Genova and Liguria, and at a national level for the positive effects in economy and employment throughout the country.”

“We are proud – concluded Flogiero – to deliver the Explora II, which represents not only technological advancement but is also a symbol of our vision for a sustainable and innovative future, not to mention a splendid example of Italian design. Our partnership with MSC, consolidated through the construction of the iconic Explora Journeys ships, proves Fincantieri’s leadership in the luxury cruising segment. Together with MSC Group we will continue to redefine the standards of excellence and sustainability for the world’s naval industry, through experimenting with technology that will push the threshold of innovation. This is the Italian brilliance that we want to project into the future of technology, accelerating our efforts in modernising shipyards and promoting work in our country, creating the ‘brain-power’ of the future.”