MSC Cruises, in collaboration with Port Kiel (Germany), has officially launched its shore power facility at the Ostuferhafen Terminal during the visit of MSC's flagship MSC Euribia.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by notable figures including Daniel Gunther, the Prime Minister of the state of Schleswig-Holstein, and Ulf Kampfer, Lord Mayor of Kiel. Also present were representatives from the port management, technical partner Siemens, Captain Christopher Pugh, the master of MSC Euribia, and senior representatives from MSC Cruises.
In June 2023, MSC entered into an agreement to connect its ships to Kiel's local power grid when they dock at the port during the summer of 2024. This arrangement aims to provide electricity for MSC's hotel operations while the vessels are berthed. Additionally, Euribia will utilize the shore-power facility at Hamburg Germany, during its winter 2023-2024 season in Northern Europe.
Since February 2023, MSC's ships have been using shore power at Port Southampton England and Kristiansand Norway. MSC has also conducted successful test trials at Norwegian ports like Haugesund, Bergen, and Alesund, as well as Warnemunde in Germany.
Shore power systems have been integrated into all of MSC's new ships since 2017, and ~67% of MSC's total capacity is equipped with this technology. As ports along its itineraries continue to offer shore power, MSC plans to retrofit more of its ships with this environmentally friendly capability.