MSC Cruises’ new itinerary planning optimisation tool aims to shave up to 15 per cent off fleetwide emissions from its ships in 2026. Using algorithms, OptiCruise will examine multiple factors to balance energy-efficient sailings with passenger satisfaction for optimal itinerary planning across all ships.
MSC Bellissima trialled the OptiCruise prototype technology over 12 months as she sailed between 17 ports in the Mediterranean Sea.
Developed with OPTIMeasy, a University of Genoa-affiliated research company, and funded by the European Union’s Project CHEK, OptiCruise uses a mathematical model to influence itinerary planning for energy efficiency.
By 2050, MSC Cruises’ Sustainability Action Plan aims to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions for its marine operations by focusing on ship technology, operational efficiency and renewable fuels.
OptiCruise comes under the cruise line’s operational efficiency focus by making greater use of digitalisation to drive efficiencies in energy consumption.
The tool looks at several factors contributing to efficiency, including departure and arrival times at ports and their sequencing, a ship’s speed, the destination’s appeal for holidaymakers, shore excursions and operational costs, such as fuel, port charges and food provisions.
As cruise ship itinerary planning typically takes two years before a sailing, OptiCruise’s sustainable benefits will be realised in 2026 when MSC Cruises’ fleet swells to 24 ships.
MSC Cruises Chief Energy Transition Officer Michele Francioni said: “We have identified and developed this new technology to optimise the decision-making process of itinerary planning to further reduce emissions across our fleet from 2026.”
“The OPTIMeasy team calculates that the average fuel savings made and emissions reduced by using OptiCruise are in the range of 10-15 per cent, which is a significant step forward in our ambition to achieve our net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2050 for our marine operations.”
In 2023, MSC Cruises embarked on a world-first, net-zero emissions voyage on MSC Euribia using liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Find out more at msccruises.com.au/sustainability
