Explora Journeys and Fincantieri celebrate the delivery of Explora III, MSC Group's luxury ocean travel brand reaches the halfway milestone of its planned fleet

• All vessels are being built in Italy through an investment of more than €3.5 billion, generating an economic impact exceeding €15 billion for the country and supporting thousands of jobs. 
• The ships represent the very best of Made in Italy excellence and are at the forefront of design, shipbuilding expertise and environmental technologies. Explora III is the first vessel in the series powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and is capable of operating on renewable alternatives including bio-LNG, synthetic LNG and biofuels. 
• Shore power connectivity enables emissions to be virtually eliminated while the vessel is berthed in port. 

Explora Journeys today celebrated the delivery of Explora III at Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa. The vessel is the third ship built by Fincantieri, a global leader in complex shipbuilding, for Explora Journeys, MSC Group's luxury ocean travel brand, which continues to redefine industry standards and enjoys growing success. 

Held in the presence of national, regional and local authorities, the ceremony marked an important milestone in the development of the Explora Journeys fleet, which has now reached the halfway point of its planned growth. With the delivery of Explora III, three of the six vessels planned for the fleet are now in service, while the remaining three are all under construction and will enter service within the next two years – Explora IV and Explora V in 2027, followed by Explora VI in 2028 – completing the fleet programme entrusted to Fincantieri. 

Among those attending the event were the President of the Liguria Region, Marco Bucci, the Mayor of Genoa, Silvia Salis, Admiral Inspector Antonio Ranieri, Maritime Director for Liguria and Commander of the Port of Genoa, the President of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, Matteo Paroli. 

Guests were welcomed by Biagio Mazzotta, Chairman of Fincantieri; Pierroberto Folgiero, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Fincantieri; Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager of the Merchant Ships Division; Massimo Canesin, Director of Genova Sestri Shipyard; together with Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Group's Cruise Division; Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys; Maya Aponte, Godmother of the vessel; and other senior executives from Fincantieri and MSC Group. 

Marco Bucci, President of the Liguria Region, stated: "Explora III is a symbol of a Liguria that continues to grow, invest, and strengthen its role as a leading player in the blue economy. The delivery of this ship confirms the value of the expertise, professionalism, and industrial capabilities of our region, which looks to Italy and the world with confidence, as well as the trust that companies such as MSC and Fincantieri continue to place in Liguria. We are investing hundreds of millions of euros in the Sestri Ponente shipyard because we want to make it one of the most advanced shipbuilding hubs in the Mediterranean, further reinforcing Liguria’s leadership in a strategic sector for economic growth and employment." 

Silvia Salis, Mayor of Genoa, commented: "Genoa lives through its port; it is part of its DNA. That is why today we are not only celebrating the delivery of a ship, but also the work and expertise of the people who made it possible. Explora III brings to the seas the industrial capabilities of Fincantieri, the Ligurian supply chain, and the Sestri Ponente shipyard. The Municipality is ready to play its part to ensure that sustainable industrial development does not remain merely a principle but becomes a practice capable of creating jobs and delivering lasting benefits for the local area, while serving as an example both in Italy and abroad. Since taking office, we have been working with Fincantieri to enhance a facility that is strategic not only for Genoa but also to ensure that its development provides tangible benefits for Sestri Ponente and the entire city. This district has faced significant challenges and now has the right to see industrial growth translated into spaces, services, and opportunities that improve the quality of life of the community. We strongly believe in maritime professions and are opening a school dedicated to this sector. Having the major players of the industry by our side is essential to providing stable, high-quality employment opportunities, the kind that many young people are seeking and that, as Mayor, I feel responsible for helping to create." 

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, MSC Group's Cruise Division, said: “The delivery of EXPLORA III marks another important milestone in the realisation of our vision for Explora Journeys. In just three years, we have established a distinctive new perspective on ocean travel. I have always believed that the finest real estate in the world is found at sea. No hotel on land can offer the same ever-changing views, the same sense of arrival, or the privilege of waking each morning in a different destination. Combined with the generous space, privacy and comfort of Explora Journeys, our all-inclusive approach and highly personalised service, it delivers exceptional value in both time and money. With every new ship, we expand our ability to take guests beyond the familiar through more immersive experiences in destinations around the world. EXPLORA III reflects our commitment to innovation, craftsmanship and responsible growth, while supporting the wider economic benefits that cruise tourism brings to destinations and coastal communities.” 

Pierroberto Folgiero, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Fincantieri, said: “Explora III demonstrates Fincantieri's ability to drive the transformation of shipbuilding through innovation, sustainability and the adoption of new technologies and alternative fuels. The introduction of the first LNG-powered vessel into the fleet marks an important milestone in this journey and reflects our commitment to developing increasingly advanced and sustainable solutions. The construction of these ships demonstrates the value of an industrial ecosystem that brings together large companies, SMEs and local communities. The Sestri Ponente shipyard, together with the wider Ligurian supply chain, represents a unique concentration of expertise and skills that enables the creation of increasingly advanced vessels capable of showcasing the very best of Made in Italy excellence around the world.” 

Built to the highest standards, the Explora Journey vessels represent the very best of Made in Italy excellence and serve as ambassadors of Italian craftsmanship around the world. Advanced environmental technologies have been incorporated throughout the fleet. All vessels are equipped with shore power connectivity, enabling engines to be switched off and reducing emissions to virtually zero while in port. 

Explora III is the first vessel in the fleet – together with the ships to follow in the series – to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), a fuel capable of reducing sulphur oxide emissions by 99%, nitrogen oxide emissions by 85%, particulate matter emissions by 98% and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20% compared with conventional marine fuels. The vessels are also capable of operating on renewable and next-generation fuels, including bio-LNG, synthetic LNG and biofuels. Explora V and Explora VI will additionally feature fuel cells, an innovative technology capable of generating energy more efficiently and supporting the industry's pathway towards net-zero emissions, ahead of the industry’s 2050 target. 

Designed and built under supervision of RINA Classification Society, Explora III has received a number of additional notations recognising its environmental performance and passenger comfort. These include the "Green Plus" notation for high environmental standards and the "Comfort Noise and Vibration" notation for low onboard noise and vibration levels. The vessel has also received the "Dolphin" notation, recognising efforts to minimise underwater radiated noise in environmentally sensitive marine areas, as well as Polar Code C certification, enabling operations in polar regions. 

Liguria plays a central role in Fincantieri's industrial ecosystem and represents one of the leading hubs of Italian shipbuilding. Around 800 suppliers operate within the Group's supply chain across the region, alongside its more than 3,600 employees, generating significant economic benefits throughout the wider value chain. In this context, the Sestri Ponente shipyard, dedicated to cruise ship construction, represents a centre of excellence for Italian shipbuilding. Since 2003, it has delivered 18 vessels and currently has an orderbook extending through to 2037. The Explora Journeys fleet programme reflects both the excellence of Made in Italy and the ability of the Ligurian maritime cluster to develop advanced technological solutions for the future of the cruise industry.