When the BWT Alpine Formula One Team unveiled its new livery aboard MSC World Europa on 23 January 2026, the setting was far more than a spectacular stage. On the side line of the event, I had the opportunity to sit down with Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises, to discuss what may be the defining challenge of the cruise industry’s future: decarbonisation.
Engineering at the heart of Europe’s maritime strategy
For Vago, the transition towards low and zero emission cruising cannot be separated from industrial strategy and European know how. Shipbuilding, he argues, is not simply about producing vessels, but about safeguarding expertise, technological leadership and strategic autonomy.
“This is an important moment to show the world that we are a European industry, a French industry that provides real work,” Vago said. “Around 70% of each ship is made in France. That is jobs, knowledge and technology that stay in Europe.”
MSC Cruises’ long-standing partnership with Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire is central to that approach. The shipyard employs around 10,000 people every day and hosts one of the largest engineering offices in France, with more than 1,000 engineers working on ship design, propulsion systems, and environmental performance.
“There is a real battle in naval construction,” Vago acknowledged. “Today, around 90% of global shipbuilding happens in Asia. Europe survives because we build ships that are more complex, under stricter regulations and in much shorter timeframes. That complexity is our strength.”
Cutting emissions through design and technology
Decarbonisation in cruising often appears as a long-term ambition, yet MSC Cruises points to measurable progress already achieved. Using 2008 as a baseline year, the company reports significant reductions in emissions intensity.
“With MSC World Europa, emissions per passenger have already been reduced by about 50% compared to 2008,” Vago noted. “Very few industries can demonstrate that level of improvement.”
Delivered in 2022, MSC World Europa remains among the most energy-efficient cruise ships in the world. Its performance is the result of advances in hull hydrodynamics, propulsion efficiency, and energy recovery systems.
“When you look at a ship’s emissions over a year, around half come from energy consumption,” Vago explained. “Every gain in hydrodynamics, every improvement in engine efficiency, has a direct impact.”
Waste heat recovery plays a key role. Heat produced by engines is reused to generate steam, electricity, and hot water, reducing overall fuel demand. Heat pumps and energy optimisation systems further enhance efficiency across hotel operations such as kitchens, air conditioning, and water production.
LNG as a transition fuel and what comes next
Fuel choice remains one of the most closely watched aspects of cruise decarbonisation. MSC Cruises has committed to liquefied natural gas as a transition fuel while preparing its fleet for the next generation of alternatives.
“LNG is not the final solution,” Vago said. “It is a pathway.”
All World Class ships are equipped with dual fuel engines capable of operating on bio and synthetic LNG as these fuels become available at scale. Two additional vessels, MSC World Asia and MSC World Atlantic, are currently under construction in France and will enter service in 2026 and 2027.
MSC also uses bio LNG through a mass balance system, ensuring that equivalent volumes of renewable gas are injected into the energy network, similar to green electricity contracts used on land.
“Our ambition is to reach net zero emissions by 2050, and ideally before,” Vago stated.
Waste, water, and the floating city challenge
Decarbonisation goes beyond propulsion. Modern cruise ships function as floating cities, requiring advanced systems to manage water, waste, and resources for thousands of passengers.
According to Wim Willems, press officer of MSC Cruises Benelux, the company has invested heavily in onboard waste management and water treatment technologies.
“We try to minimise waste to the maximum,” Willems said. “Food waste is recycled as much as possible, and wastewater is treated with very sophisticated systems. The water we release is cleaned to a very high standard, and most waste is only discharged when we are in port.”
Swimming pool water is sourced from the sea, treated onboard, and continuously recycled and mineralised, reducing pressure on freshwater resources.
“These ships are designed to reduce impact wherever possible,” Willems added. “That is essential when you have thousands of people on board.”
Managing ports and destinations responsibly
Beyond environmental performance at sea, MSC Cruises is also focusing on its footprint in ports and destinations. Passenger flows are managed through app-based time slots, colour-coded disembarkation groups, and staggered shore excursion departures.
“Cruise ships do not just use ports,” Pierfrancesco Vago stressed. “They help finance and accelerate infrastructure development.”
MSC has invested in terminal projects and port infrastructure in cities such as Barcelona, Miami, and Durban, contributing to shore power installations, waste facilities, and passenger logistics that benefit the wider tourism economy.
The Dubrovnik Respect the City programme is frequently cited as a model. Developed in cooperation with local authorities and cruise operators, it regulates visitor numbers and arrival times while preserving economic benefits for residents.
Shore power and digital efficiency
Reducing emissions while in port is another priority. Since 2017, all new MSC ships have been built with shore power connectivity, allowing them to plug into local electricity grids instead of using onboard engines.
By the end of 2025, 21 ships in MSC’s cruise fleet will be shore power enabled through new builds and retrofitting programmes.
Operational efficiency tools such as OptiCruise and Oceanly Performance further reduce emissions by optimising routes, speeds, and onboard energy use in real time.
“These systems allow us to reduce fuel consumption without compromising the guest experience,” Willems explained.
A long-term vision for net-zero cruising
Despite the progress made, Vago is clear that decarbonisation cannot be achieved by the cruise industry alone.
“We need collaboration with fuel suppliers, regulators, and governments,” he said. “This transition requires collective effort.”
What distinguishes MSC Cruises is its long-term planning horizon. With visibility over fleet development for the next fifteen years, the company can invest consistently in innovation, engineering, and new technologies.
“This long-term vision gives Europe an advantage,” Vago concluded. “It allows us to innovate, to protect our industrial base and to lead the transition.”
The message aboard MSC World Europa was unmistakable. Decarbonisation is no longer a distant objective. For MSC Cruises, it is already an ongoing reality.
