The MSC World Europa arrives at Dubai port

The MSC World Europa, a futuristic, lower-carbon-fuelled cruise ship, made its first call at Mina Rashid on 21st of December, after serving as a floating hotel during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The vessel began its new winter season with a four-night sail from Doha to Dubai. Carrying over 4,500 passengers, the cruise ship is scheduled to make 14 calls to Mina Rashid, bringing over 189,000 tourists to the Emirate.

Powered by a LNG engine, this technology helps the vessel reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% when compared with ships powered by conventional LNG engines alone.

The MSC World Europa emits 99% less sulphur dioxide, 85% less nitrogen dioxide, and 20% less carbon dioxide, compared to non-LNG powered ships, making it one of the most futuristic vessels in the world.

A marine LNG engine is a dual fuel engine that uses natural gas and bunker fuel to convert chemical energy in to mechanical energy.

The MSC World Europa is also the first in its class to accommodate an LNG-powered fuel cell, helping cut its carbon emissions further. The 50-kilowatt fuel cell runs on solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology and uses LNG to produce electricity and heat. This technology helps the vessel reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% when compared with ships powered by conventional LNG engines alone.

Esam Ahmad, Senior Manager – Business management, P&O Marinas, said, "The arrival of the MSC World Europa at Mina Rashid is a significant milestone for the cruise terminal. It reaffirms our capabilities in accommodating vessels that are not only massive in size, but also unique in their requirements. We are proud that Mina Rashid can cater to such distinctive and advanced needs, and we are ready to welcome more ships that require similar services."

"Owing to Dubai's strengths, including investments in the tourism industry and the expansion of cruise terminals, we predict another robust winter for the 2022/2023 season. We expect a significant rise in port calls at our cruise terminal compared to last year. Additionally, passenger and crew inflows are expected to rise to around 600,000, which is more than double the number recorded in the previous season," Esam added.

Saud Mohammed Saeed Hareb, Assistant Manager, International Operations, Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, commented, "The first call of the MSC World Europa to Mina Rashid further reinforces Dubai's position as the cruise hub of the region. The arrival of this eco-friendly cruise vessel is also a fitting representation of our sustainability-oriented tourism strategy, with the most modern Mina Rashid reflecting the city's rapid development and relentless drive to position itself as a global destination for cruise tourism.

“We are indeed grateful to our valued network of public and private sector stakeholders like DP World for their continued cooperation and support, which has led to an ever-increasing number of cruise operators seeking to anchor in the Emirate and take advantage of Dubai's diverse destination offering, world-class infrastructure, superior air and sea connectivity, and its strategic location between east and west.”