MSC SPLENDIDA Achieves First Energy Efficient Design Recognition

International classification society Bureau Veritas has awarded its first Energy Efficient Design label to the new 3,952-passenger cruise vessel MSC Splendida. Just delivered to MSC from STX France Cruise's St Nazaire yard, MSC Splendida will be the flagship of the MSC Cruises fleet.

Didier Chaleat, Senior Vice-President, Bureau Veritas, says, "We are very proud to class this cutting edge vessel, and especially happy that such a fine ship has been the first to achieve the rigorous energy efficiency standards set out in our voluntary Energy Efficient Design scheme. This covers the design of hull and appendices for maximum fuel efficiency, energy saving devices for energy production using the latest generation diesel generators and propulsion using high performance propellers driven by electric motors with frequency converters to optimize power to speed requirements. The vessel can reach 24 knots with twin 20MW main motors. The reduction of energy consumption of systems and equipment required for the public spaces such as air conditioning includes an automatic system to reduce cooling in case of no occupancy of a cabin, a free cooling system allowing climate control of areas without the ship producing air refrigeration and lighting optimisation with LED lights. There is an advanced Passenger Cabin Monitoring system to most efficiently manage the passenger cabin air conditioning which takes into account when the balcony door is open or cabin card not in place. Low consumption bulbs are fitted in the cabins.

"We estimate the vessel may save more than 10 per cent of total energy consumption as compared to a more conventional or older vessel of this size. And this is obtained without any compromise on speed, comfort or hygiene. MSC Splendida is only the second vessel (after MSC Fantasia) to which we have been able to award our Six Golden Pearls integrated voluntary scheme certifying corporate compliance with the three highest international standards in the areas of environment (ISO 14001), health and safety (OHSAS 18001) and food safety (ISO 22000) and the additional notation for the vessel Cleanship 2, covering systems which limit emissions to the air and water and waste handling."

Bureau Veritas' Energy Efficient Design scheme allows owners, designers and yards to combine energy saving technologies to deliver the best overall energy performance for the specific vessel and service and consequently the lowest Green House Gas Emissions.