Tuesday, August 6, 2024
reading time: 2 minutes
MSC Cruises Plans to reduce its fleet emissions by up to 15% by 2026 by introducing a new flight path optimization tool, Opticruz.
This innovative tool, developed in collaboration with OPTIMeasy – a research company linked to the University of Genoa – uses an advanced mathematical model to optimize cruise planning. OptiCruise considers a wide range of factors to enhance sailing efficiency while maintaining or increasing guest satisfaction.
Traditionally, cruise itinerary planning has focused primarily on the attractiveness of destinations. However, OptiCruise expands this focus to include essential elements such as port visit sequence, arrival and departure timing, ship speed, guest experience, land excursions, and operating costs including fuel, port fees, and provisions.
By taking advantage of these factors, OptiCruise algorithms craft routes that balance guest appeal with energy efficiency.
Planning for a cruise is usually completed two years in advance. MSC Cruises will start seeing the impact of OptiCruise in 2026, when its fleet will consist of 24 ships.
The prototype technology was tested on board MSC Bellissima over a 12-month period, covering 17 ports in the Mediterranean.
This initiative is in line with MSC Cruises’ broader strategy to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with a focus on advances in ship and engine technology, operational efficiency and renewable fuels. OptiCruise contributes to the operational efficiency goal by promoting digitalisation and optimising energy use.
Michele Franchione, Chief Energy Transition Officer at MSC Cruises, said: “We have identified and developed this new technology to improve our route planning decision-making with the aim of further reducing emissions across our fleet from 2026. The OPTIMeasy team calculates that average fuel savings and reduced emissions using OptiCruise are between 10 and 15 percent and is a significant step forward in our ambition to achieve our goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 for our marine operations.”
OptiCruise was created through the EU-funded CHEK project, which aims to explore and test various low-carbon shipping solutions, including developments in energy technologies and innovative ship designs.
The CHEK project supported the development of this sports model due to its potential to significantly reduce emissions, benefiting not only MSC Cruises but the cruise industry as a whole.
The CHEK project is a component of the European Union’s Horizon research and innovation initiative and is led by the University of Vaasa in Finland. The consortium involved in the project includes MSC Cruises, the World Maritime University, Wärtsilä, Cargill, Lloyds Register and other key partners.
