Explora Journeys and Fincantieri celebrate the float out of Explora V and the coin ceremony for Explora VI

A double milestone for Italian shipbuilding and for MSC Group’s luxury brand at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri Ponente. At the Ligurian shipyard, the technical launch of Explora V and the traditional coin ceremony of Explora VI took place simultaneously, two key steps for the fleet expansion plan. With the first three units already in service worldwide, the program is moving forward at a rapid pace: Explora IV and Explora V will enter service in 2027, in spring and late year respectively, while Explora VI will complete the fleet by summer 2028.

The ceremony was attended by corporate leadership, including Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC’s Passenger Division, and Fincantieri CEO, Pierroberto Folgiero, joined by local and regional institutions. Shipyard employees Consuelo Brunelli, for the launch of Explora V, and Camilla Ronco served as godmothers, who, together with brand President Anna Nash, welded the commemorative coins into the hull of Explora VI. The total investment by MSC for the six ships exceeds 3.5 billion euros, generating an estimated impact on the Italian economy of over 15 billion with thousands of jobs created directly in the Ligurian region.

On the technological and environmental front, the new units represent a fundamental step in the group’s decarbonization strategy. Both Explora V and Explora VI adopt liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion and are designed for the use of bio-LNG, synthetic fuels, and biofuels, also integrating shore power connection (cold ironing) to eliminate emissions during port calls. Explora VI will also be equipped with hydrogen fuel cells, a cutting-edge technological solution for which its sister ship Explora V is already prepared.