MSC Group’s Explora Journeys luxury travel brand has ordered an additional two hydrogen-powered luxury cruise ships with FIncantieri.
It will increase Explora’s fleet number from four to six vessels.
EXPLORA V and VI will feature a new generation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines and a containment system for liquid hydrogen to enable low-carbon fuel.
Hydrogen fuel will power a six-megawatt fuel cell to produce emissions-free power for the hotel operations.
The two newbuilds will come into service in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
Explora Journeys’ previously announced vessels EXPLORA III and IV will now be powered by LNG.
The two ships will be enlarged by 19 metres to enable the installation of a new system based on LNG and hydrogen.
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.”
The two additional ships will bring Explora Journeys’ investment in its fleet to €3.5 billion.
Due to the significant redesign of EXPLORA III and IV with LNG engines, they will now be delivered in 2026 and 2027.
