The MSC World Europa will have LNG powered engines and fuel cell produced electricity,
From Seatrade Cruise News, June 29, 2020:
Chantiers de l'Atlantique lays keel for LNG-powered MSC World Europa
And first French-built LNG cruise ship
It also will be the first LNG-powered cruise ship built in France.
The 200,000gt-plus MSC World Europa — previously called MSC Europa — is scheduled to enter service in 2022.
Zoe Africa Vago, daughter of Alexa Aponte-Vago and Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ executive chairman, and Aurore Bezard of the HR department at Chantiers de I’Atlantique placed two coins under the keel for good luck.
'MSC World Europa is further proof of our commitment to environmental stewardship as she is set to reduce carbon emissions even further than many other existing cruise ships powered by LNG, which is currently the most environmentally-friendly fuel for commercial maritime operations,' Vago said. 'With this vessel, we also reconfirm our belief in investing in advanced environmental technology to meet our long-term goal of zero emissions from operations.'...MUCH MORE
At 205,000 tonnes the ship will be in the top ten largest cruise ships in the world.
And from Maritime Executive, February 16:
Solid Sail and Mast to be Installed for Validation in France
French shipyard Chantiers de l’Atlantique is continuing efforts to develop and commercialize its solid sail technology for large ships. Developed from an R&D program begun in 2008, the sail is an innovative application of composite materials and a rigging system that has been tested on a smaller scale aboard Jean Le Cam’s sailboat as well in trials with Ponant. The promising technology has also drawn interest from large ship operators including MSC.
As the next step in the technical validation necessary to commercialize the Solid Sail/AeolDrive solution for large ships, the shipyard will install prototypes of the system for testing at the shipyard. In the fall of 2021, they will install a 125-foot-tall mast that deploys a 550 m² (657 yd²) sail and that will be followed by a full-scale model standing 311 feet in height in 2022 with a 1,200 m² (1,435 yd²) Solid Sail. The centerpiece of the system, the rigging named AeolDrive – a mast tiltable through 70°, which is a balestron rigging able to rotate through 360° permitting the vessel to remain on course without the maneuvering traditionally required by a sailing ship.
The new test masts will be extending the previous 1 to 5 scale prototype which was tested for two years on a pier in Pornichet harbor. A system of force and position sensors will enable the aerodynamic and kinematic performances of the assembly to be evaluated while monitoring the stress levels in the mechanical elements....MUCH MORE
