MSC Group’s Cruise Division has reached another major milestone in its decarbonisation journey, as two of its vessels – MSC World Europa and EXPLORA II – connected to shore power at Valletta’s Grand Harbour on consecutive days, October 15 and yesterday October 16, 2025.

The occasion was marked during a high-level event in Valletta attended by the Prime Minister of Malta, Dr. Robert Abela, and senior government officials.

The back-to-back connections mark a first for the company, with EXPLORA II becoming the first Explora Journeys’ ship to connect to shore-side electricity in Europe.

Together, these operations represent a significant step forward in the Cruise Division’s global shore power programme. Since the inauguration of the shore power facility in Valetta in 2024 – when MSC World Europa became the first vessel to use the facility – MSC Cruises’ ships have spent about 300 hours connected to shore power in Valletta, effectively eliminating half an  entire month’s worth of local emissions that would have otherwise been produced while berthed.

Both connections took place alongside the GreenPort Congress 20th Anniversary & Decarbonising the Future (DTF) Conference 2025, underscoring the Cruise Division’s ongoing commitment to cleaner port operations and Malta’s pivotal role in supporting the European Union’s Fit for 55 plan, which requires all essential European ports to be equipped for shore power use by 2030.

Prime Minister of Malta, Dr Robert Abela, underlined: “Our collaboration with global partners such as MSC Group shows how Malta can combine economic growth with environmental progress. The shore-power system at the Grand Harbour is a national investment in cleaner air, quieter communities, and sustainable tourism. It is encouraging to see international cruise operators like MSC actively using the facility and helping us set an example for the Mediterranean region.”

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, MSC Group’s Cruise Division, said:

“These connections show how technology, investment, and partnership can deliver immediate environmental benefits. Malta was the first Mediterranean port to make shore power operational, and together we are now proving that sustainable infrastructure can support both environmental goals and the growth of cruise tourism. We have a strong history of collaboration with the Maltese Government – we thank them for their continued support and are proud to mark this important milestone together.”

MSC Cruises has fitted shore power capability as standard on all new ships since 2017 and is working to retrofit other vessels in the fleet. Today, 18 of MSC Group’s Cruise Division’s 25 vessels are equipped to connect to shore-side electricity, with additional installations under way.

In 2024, MSC Cruises connected to shore power in 13 ports and made 142 successful connections, more than triple the previous year.