At the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri Ponente, the MSC Group and the shipbuilder celebrated two milestones in the new-build programme for the Explora Journeys brand.
Following the delivery of the “Explora III” at the end of July, the construction programme for Explora Journeys is progressing. In less than two years, the fleet is set to reach its planned strength of six ships: the “Explora IV” and “Explora V” are both due to be delivered in 2027, whilst the ‘Explora VI’ is scheduled to enter service in the summer of 2028.
The traditional coin-laying ceremony has now taken place for the “Explora VI”. The “godmothers” were Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys, and Camilla Ronco, a member of staff at the hull pre-assembly workshop at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri Ponente. The godmother for the technical launch of the “Explora V” was Consuelo Brunelli, a member of staff in Fincantieri’s design department.
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of the MSC Group’s passenger shipping division, said: “Today marks a crucial milestone in the development of the Explora Journeys fleet. These ships, built in Italy, underline our long-term commitment to the country – a commitment that also extends to the 19 Italian destinations already served by Explora Journeys.”
The six Explora Journeys ships, all of which are being built by Fincantieri in Italy, represent a total investment of more than €3.5 billion by MSC. According to the shipyard, this in turn has an economic impact of over €15 billion on the Italian economy – particularly in Genoa and Liguria, where the majority of the ships are being built. The construction of each individual ship requires more than seven million working hours and employs an average of 2,500 people over a period of two to three years – according to official figures.
A key site in the region is the shipyard in Sestri Ponente, which specialises in the construction of cruise ships. Since 2003, 19 ships have been built there, and the order book extends until 2037.
Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri, emphasised: “Fincantieri is rising to the challenge of transforming shipbuilding into an increasingly technology-intensive sector by integrating new technologies into an industry that is traditionally very labour-intensive. In Sestri Ponente, we are working to incorporate this transformation directly into the construction processes with the help of artificial intelligence, robotics and automation. This approach enhances the skills of our workforce and relies on collaboration with industrial partners – both crucial factors in translating technological developments into concrete applications. In this context, the Explora V is a prime example of how beauty, functionality and innovation can be combined; it introduces advanced industrial and environmental solutions into a sector as complex as shipbuilding.”
All vessels in the new-build series are equipped with a shore power connection, which makes it possible to reduce emissions to zero whilst berthed in port by switching off the engines.
As regards the choice of fuels, the ‘Explora V’ and ‘Explora VI’ – like the two preceding vessels – use liquefied natural gas (LNG). They are also designed to operate on the latest generation of fuels, such as bio-LNG, synthetic LNG and biofuels. The “Explora VI” is also set to be fitted with fuel cell technology.
