Green and Clean Sails Ahead for GE's MSC Cruise Line

Ahoy, electrically-powered cruise ships! General Electric's (GE) Power Conversion business has announced a new vessel to join its MSC (News - Alert) Cruises' fleet called the MSC Preziosa. The ship has completed a number of sea trials, making it close to being ready to set sail. The development of the ship comes amidst a growing global electrification trend that uses mechanical equipment with electrical power generation and propulsion technology to reduce pollution – a serious issue in the business.

When it comes to carbon emissions in the transportation industry, cruise ships reign as top polluters and cruise companies have been gradually addressing the issue. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Princess have all previously invested in alternative engines that reduce the negative impact on the planet. In 2009, General Electric’s Alternative Engine technology was added to Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruise Ships.

The debut comes at an opportune time not only for the environment, but for the passenger ship industry, which is seeing an up kick in growth. In 2012, the category experienced a growth rate of 3.3 percent and saw 20.9 million customers. GE predicts that over the next five years, the growth is projected to remain consistent at three-percent, with six new energy-efficient ships being built per year for the next three years.

An investment in GE Power Conversion's eco-conscious solution proposes to be one that is wallet-friendly. GE is able to potentially reduce costs with its remote monitoring – a service that helps prevent unplanned downtime and reduces the frequency of repair work. Fuel saving is another perk, as the propulsion chain GE offers can be driven by diesel motors.

MSC Preziosa is the latest ship in MSC’s Fantasia class and the 12th in the MSC fleet.