Sign up
Log in Sign up
Tue 21 Feb 2017 11:02

MSC Cruises ship passes MARPOL scrubber test


Another vessel, the MSC Preziosa, is scheduled for sea trials in May.

MSC Cruises and Yara Marine Technologies, a manufacturer of exhaust abatement solutions, have announced that the MSC Fantasia - the first MSC Cruises ship to be retrofitted with exhaust gas cleaning systems - has received its EU Marine Equipment Directive (MED) Certificate from Bureau Veritas after passing MARPOL's scrubber test.

The project was led by a team from STX France, the yard that originally built the two vessels. The installation of the process equipment was completed with the ship in full operation, while the dry dock operations - namely the exhaust gas cleaning system installation - were carried out at Fincantieri's shipyard in Palermo.

The MSC Preziosa - the second MSC Cruises ship to have undergone this programme - is scheduled for sea trials during the first week of May, with the cruise operator aiming to receive the MED certificate for this vessel by mid-June.

MSC Cruises says that other ships in its fleet are set to be retrofitted with exhaust gas cleaning systems in the "coming years", ahead of the entry into force of stricter emission requirements in 2020.

Yara's exhaust gas cleaning technology is designed to clean the ship's exhaust gases in accordance with the strictest International Maritime Organization (IMO) 0.1 percent Emission Control Area (ECA) requirements. It is also said to guarantee compliance with the upcoming 0.5 percent global sulphur cap that will come into force in January 2020.

"Innovation and respect for the environment are core values for our company and absolutely central to how we design, build and develop our ships," said Emilio La Scala, President & Managing Director of MSC Cruises' Technical Department. "For this reason, we are pleased to have received Bureau Veritas' MED Certificate for our first vessel as we continue to work to meet existing as well as upcoming international sulphur emissions requirements."

Kai Latun, Yara Marine's VP Sales and Marketing, remarked: "We are very happy that MSC Cruises has received the MED Certificate from Bureau Veritas for the first cruise ship that has been retrofitted with our exhaust gas cleaning systems. This certifies that MSC Fantasia's systems run according to design and is ready to comply with the upcoming global sulphur regulations from 2020."

Image: MSC Fantasia

LNG facility at Vestbase in Kristiansund. Molgas and NorSea Logistics reopen LNG facility in Kristiansund  

The reopened facility will supply LNG and bio-LNG to dual-fuel vessels operating in Norwegian waters.
Uyeno Transtech’s oil tanker Kikou Maru. Hydrogen-fuelled tanker achieves top rating in zero-emission programme  

Kikou Maru becomes first coastal vessel to secure financing under DBJ-ClassNK decarbonisation initiative.
TFG Marine participates in ARACON 2025 conference in Rotterdam. TFG Marine calls for ISO 22192 alignment in ARA MFM rollout  

Company urges consistency as Rotterdam and Antwerp prepare mass flow meter implementation.
Singapore skyline with Merlion and central business district. Peninsula renews $400m Singapore credit facility as part of $1.5bn funding capacity  

Bunker supplier extends banking arrangement with eight-bank syndicate, including accordion option.
Elenger Marine's LNG bunkering vessel Optimus alongside Brittany Ferries’ Saint-Malo. Titan delivers first liquefied biomethane to Saint-Malo ferry in Portsmouth  

Optimus tanker supplies Brittany Ferries' vessel with biomethane at UK port.
MOL participates in Ammonia Energy Association Annual Conference 2025. MOL outlines ammonia fuel strategy at Houston conference  

Japanese shipping company discusses terminal acquisition and dual-fuel vessel plans at industry gathering.
Gasum's LNG bunkering vessel Coralius. Gasum highlights how bio-LNG fleet generates compliance surplus  

Energy firm's four gas-powered vessels generate regulatory surplus for pooling service participants.
Monjasa Reformer bunker tanker. Monjasa secures NATO fuel supply contract across five operational areas  

Danish marine fuel supplier wins one-year framework deal with two-year extension option.
Lucia Cosulich keel-laying ceremony. Fratelli Cosulich lays keel for second methanol-ready bunker vessel  

Ceremony held to mark the beginning of the tanker's assembly phase.
GEFO's chemical tanker Gioconda. GEFO bunkers biofuel for first time as Gioconda runs on B100 UCOME  

German shipping company takes maiden step into biofuel bunkering with used cooking oil biodiesel.




 Recommended