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July 24, 2026

Explora Journeys has celebrated the entry into service of Explora III, the third ship of the luxury brand of the MSC Group, delivered by Fincantieri at its Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa.

The ceremony was attended by numerous civil and institutional authorities, including Marco Bucci, President of the Liguria Region; Silvia Salis, Mayor of Genoa; Rear Admiral Antonio Ranieri, Maritime Director of Liguria and Commander of the Port of Genoa; and Matteo Paroli, President of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority.

Guests were welcomed by Biagio Mazzotta, Chairman of Fincantieri; Pierroberto Folgiero, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Fincantieri; Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager of Fincantieri’s Merchant Ships Division; and Massimo Canesin, Director of the Fincantieri Sestri Ponente Shipyard, together with Diego Aponte, Chairman of MSC Group; Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises; Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys; and Maya Aponte, godmother of the ship.

The new vessel represents a further milestone in the development of the brand, which continues to distinguish itself in the luxury ocean travel segment and is gaining increasing recognition in the market. With the entry into service of this new unit, Explora Journeys has reached the halfway point of its planned fleet expansion programme: three of the six ordered ships are now operational, while the remaining three are already under construction at Fincantieri and will be delivered between 2027, with Explora IV and Explora V, and 2028, when Explora VI will join the fleet, completing the entire construction programme entrusted to the Italian shipbuilding group.

Marco Bucci, President of the Liguria Region, highlighted how Explora III represents the symbol of a growing Liguria that is increasingly becoming a leading player in the blue economy. According to Bucci, the delivery of the ship confirms the value of the region’s industrial expertise and the confidence that companies such as MSC and Fincantieri continue to place in Liguria. He also recalled the significant investments dedicated to the Sestri Ponente shipyard, aimed at transforming it into one of the leading shipbuilding hubs in the Mediterranean and further strengthening Liguria’s leadership in a sector that is strategic for economic and employment development.

Silvia Salis, Mayor of Genoa, emphasised that the delivery of Explora III represents not only the completion of a new ship, but also the result of the work, skills and industrial capabilities of Fincantieri, the Ligurian supply chain and the Sestri Ponente shipyard. Salis reaffirmed the city administration’s commitment to supporting sustainable industrial development capable of generating qualified employment and tangible benefits for the local area. She also highlighted the importance of promoting maritime professions, recalling the launch of a new school dedicated to the maritime sector in cooperation with the main players in the industry.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises, described the delivery of Explora III as a further step forward in the development of Explora Journeys, highlighting how the brand has succeeded in just a few years in introducing a new vision of luxury ocean travel. Vago reiterated that the sea represents the most exclusive destination, offering constantly changing landscapes, privacy, spacious environments and highly personalised service. He also emphasised how each new ship allows the brand to expand its offering of immersive destination experiences, confirming Explora Journeys’ commitment to innovation, quality, sustainability and responsible growth.

Pierroberto Folgiero, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Fincantieri, highlighted that Explora III is an important demonstration of the group’s ability to drive the evolution of shipbuilding through innovation, sustainability and new technologies. He noted that the ship is the first vessel in the Explora Journeys fleet powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), representing a significant milestone in the transition towards increasingly sustainable solutions. Folgiero also underlined the strategic role of the Sestri Ponente shipyard and the entire Ligurian industrial ecosystem, which embody Italian manufacturing excellence and the ability to build increasingly advanced vessels.

Entirely built in Italy by Fincantieri, the six ships planned for the Explora Journeys fleet represent a total investment of more than €3.5 billion by MSC Group. The project is expected to generate an economic impact of more than €15 billion for the Italian industrial system, supporting thousands of jobs and a vast network of companies, particularly in Genoa and Liguria, where a significant part of the construction activity takes place. Each vessel requires more than seven million working hours and involves an average of 2,500 workers over a period of two to three years, confirming the strategic value of Italian shipbuilding and Explora Journeys’ role as an ambassador of Made in Italy excellence around the world.

The Explora Journeys fleet represents the highest expression of innovation in ship design and construction, combining cutting-edge technologies with a strong focus on environmental sustainability. All vessels are equipped for shore power connection, allowing emissions during port stays to be almost completely eliminated by switching off onboard engines. The new generations of ships also introduce increasingly advanced propulsion systems and the use of alternative fuels, confirming MSC Group and Fincantieri’s commitment to more sustainable navigation.

Explora III is the first vessel in the fleet to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), a solution that significantly reduces environmental impact compared with traditional marine fuels: up to 99% reduction in sulphur oxide emissions, 85% in nitrogen oxides, 98% in particulate matter and 20% in greenhouse gas emissions. The ship is also designed to operate with renewable and next-generation fuels, including bio-LNG, synthetic LNG and biofuels, ensuring maximum flexibility as energy technologies continue to evolve. A further step forward will come with Explora V and Explora VI, which will also feature fuel cell technology, an innovative solution capable of producing energy more efficiently and contributing significantly to achieving net-zero emissions, ahead of the cruise industry’s 2050 target.

Designed and built according to RINA classification standards, Explora III incorporates several solutions that have enabled her to receive important voluntary certifications related to sustainability and navigation quality. Among these is the “Green Plus” notation, awarded to ships achieving high environmental performance standards, while the “Comfort Noise and Vibration” certification confirms the vessel’s low levels of noise and vibration, ensuring maximum comfort for guests. The ship has also obtained the “Dolphin” notation, recognising technologies designed to minimise underwater noise pollution and reduce impacts on sensitive marine ecosystems. Completing the vessel’s technical profile is the Polar Code C certification, allowing her to navigate in polar regions and expanding her operational capabilities.

The Explora Journeys ships represent one of the highest expressions of Made in Italy, combining the expertise of Italian shipbuilding, technological innovation and the quality of the country’s industrial supply chain. Their construction demonstrates Italy’s ability to create next-generation vessels for the luxury market, blending design, sustainability and advanced technologies.

Within this context, Liguria plays a strategic role in Fincantieri’s industrial system, confirming itself as one of Italy’s leading shipbuilding hubs. Around 800 companies within the Group’s supply chain operate in the region, alongside more than 3,600 direct employees, generating significant economic and employment benefits throughout the territory. The Sestri Ponente shipyard, specialised in cruise ship construction, represents one of the sector’s centres of excellence: since 2003, it has built 18 vessels and currently has an order portfolio extending until 2037, contributing to the development of increasingly advanced technological solutions for the future of cruising.

The delivery of Explora III therefore marks a new milestone for Explora Journeys and Fincantieri, strengthening a partnership that continues to promote Made in Italy excellence through an increasingly innovative and sustainable fleet.

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Gabriele Bassi

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