MSC Cruises is rolling out a new itinerary planning optimisation tool which it says will cut ship emissions by up to 15%.
OptiCruise has been developed with OPTIMeasy, a research company affiliated to the University of Genoa.
It has examined numerous factors that influence the planning of each of MSC Cruises’ itineraries for optimum efficiency.
OptiCruise included numerous aspects which influence an itinerary’s efficiency, including sequencing of port calls, departure and arrival times at ports.
Also factored in are ship speed, the appeal of destinations, shore excursions, and operational costs such as fuel, port charges and food provisions.
The tool’s algorithms use all of the information to identify optimised itineraries.
Cruise ship itinerary planning typically takes place two years before a sailing and OptiCruise’s benefits will be evidenced in 2026 when MSC Cruises’ 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 Mediterranean ports.
MSC Cruises has goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
Michele Francioni, Chief Energy Transition Officer, MSC Cruises, said: “We have identified and developed this new tech to optimise the decision-making process of itinerary planning.”
“The OPTIMeasy team calculates that the average fuel savings made, and emissions reduced by using OptiCruise are in the range of 10-15% which is a significant step forward.”
OptiCruise was developed as part of the EU funded Project CHEK, established to investigate and trial low-carbon shipping opportunities.
