MSC Cruises will see its fleet of ships’ emissions reduced by up to 15% in 2026 thanks to the introduction of a new itinerary planning optimization tool called OptiCruise.
The line has developed a new mathematical model with OPTIMeasy, a research company affiliated to the University of Genoa. The new tool examines numerous factors that influence the planning of each of MSC Cruises’ itineraries to achieve the optimum level of efficiency for a sailing while maintaining or enhancing guest satisfaction.
MSC says that voyage planning in the global cruise industry has traditionally been heavily weighted towards the attractiveness of ship destinations for potential cruisers.
The line says OptiCruise broadens the scope substantially to include numerous other aspects which influence an itinerary’s efficiency, including sequencing of the port calls, departure and arrival times at ports, a ship’s speed, the appeal and attractiveness of destinations for a guest, shore excursions, and operational costs such as fuel, port charges and food provisions.
The tool’s algorithms use all of the information to identify optimized itineraries, which continue to appeal to guests while allowing for energy efficiency.
Cruise ship itinerary planning typically takes place two years before a sailing and OptiCruise’s benefits will be evidenced in 2026 when MSC Cruises’ fleet will number 24 ships.
MSC Bellissima was chosen to evaluate the prototype technology over a 12-month period as the ship sailed between 17 ports in the Mediterranean Sea.
The MSC Meraviglia. (Photo Credit: MSC Cruises)
“We have identified and developed this new technology to optimize the decision-making process of itinerary planning with the aim to further reduce emissions across our fleet from 2026,” said Michele Francioni, MSC Cruises’ Chief Energy Transition Officer.
“The OPTIMeasy team calculates that the average fuel savings made, and emissions reduced by using OptiCruise are in the range of 10-15%, which is a significant step forward in our ambition to achieve our net zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2050 for our marine operations.”
OptiCruise was developed as part of the European Union’s funded Project CHEK, that was established to investigate and trial several low-carbon shipping opportunities including energy technologies and innovative ship designs.
The mathematical model was accepted for development by Project CHEK as it was recognized as a factor that could substantially reduce emissions, not just for MSC Cruises but across the entire cruise industry.
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