Explora Journeys’ fleet EUR 3.5 billion expansion continues
Illustration of the Explora III, which was now launched at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa (Source: Explora Journeys)
The construction of MSC Group’s six-ship Explora Journeys’ fleet is proceeding at pace with three key events marked simultaneously at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa. They were the launching of the Explora III, the third ship in the series, the coin ceremony for the Explora IV, and steel-cutting for Explora V.
Two of the Fincantieri-built vessels are already in service, and all six will be commissioned within the next three years. The last in the series, Explora VI, will start operating in 2028.
The ships have a range of sustainable features including cold-ironing and LNG propulsion. They also have selective catalytic reduction units and use fuel cells to convert LNG into hydrogen.
The event was hosted by Perfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group’s Passenger Division, Anna Nash, president of Explora Journeys, and Luigi Matarazzo, general manager of Fincatieri’s Merchat Ships Division.
The Passenger Division’s Vago, said: “Today we are celebrating a triple milestone in the growth journey of Explora Journeys, our brand dedicated to the luxury segment, whose fleet will be fully operational within three years with all six vessels. We are turning our vision into reality - and we are doing so quickly. We are very pleased with the results Explora Journeys has already achieved globally, and with the positive feedback from our guests. Sustainability remains a top priority for our company, and these ships, thanks to the innovative solutions and technologies implemented on board, play a crucial role in our decarbonization journey.”
Guests at the event included a range of local and regional dignitaries and representatives of Italy’s civil and military authorities.
