The delivery ceremony of the Explora III, the third vessel built by Fincantieri for Explora Journeys, took place today in Genoa at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri Ponente.
Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group’s Cruise Division, said: “The delivery of the Explora III marks another important milestone in realizing our vision for Explora Journeys.”
“In just three years, we have defined a new and distinctive perspective in ocean travel. With each new ship, we expand our ability to offer guests new perspectives on the world through increasingly immersive experiences in the destinations we visit,” added Vago.
“The Explora III reflects our commitment to innovation, craftsmanship excellence and responsible growth, while contributing to the broader economic benefits that cruise tourism brings to coastal destinations and communities.”
Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and general manager of Fincantieri, said: “The Explora III testifies to Fincantieri’s ability to lead the transformation of the shipbuilding industry through innovation, sustainability and the evolution towards new technologies and alternative fuels.”
“The entry into the fleet of the first ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) marks a significant milestone in this journey, an expression of the development of increasingly sustainable and technologically advanced solutions,” added Folgiero.
Fincantieri said in a press release that the newbuild was celebrated with numerous authorities and institutions in attendance, including:
- President of the Liguria Region, Marco Bucci
- Mayor of Genoa, Silvia Salis
- Admiral Inspector Antonio Ranieri, and
- President of the Port System Authority of the Western Ligurian Sea, Matteo Paroli.
The Explora III is the third out of six ships; the remaining three are all under construction and will take to the sea within two years: the Explora IV and Explora V in 2027, and Explora VI in 2028.
Guests were welcomed by:
- Biagio Mazzotta, president of Fincantieri
- Pierroberto Folgiero, chief executive officer and general manager of Fincantieri;
- Luigi Matarazzo, general manager of Fincantieri’s Merchant Ships Division
- Massimo Canesin, director of the Fincantieri Shipyard in Sestri
- Diego Aponte, chairman of the MSC Group
- Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of the Cruise Division of the MSC Group
- Anna Nash, president of Explora Journeys
- Maya Aponte, godmother of the ship, and
- other managers of Fincantieri and MSC.
The Explora III will use liquefied natural gas (LNG), reducing emissions of sulfur oxides by 99 percent, nitrogen oxides by 85 percent, particulate matter by 98 percent and greenhouse gases by up to 20 percent.
It is designed to run on renewable and latest-generation fuels such as bio-LNG, synthetic LNG and biofuels. The Explora V and Explora VI will also adopt fuel cells.
Designed and built under RINA class surveillance, the Explora III has been acknowledged for its environmentally sustainable and passenger-comfort design, and was certified to sail in the polar regions.
