MSC Meraviglia Uses Shore Power at Brooklyn Terminal

MSC Cruises has announced that its vessel MSC Meraviglia successfully used shore power for the first time in New York, connecting to the grid at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal on October 26.

According to a company press release, the connection allowed the ship to turn off its engines, thereby eliminating local emissions during its stay in port.

Michele Francioni, Chief Energy Transition Officer at MSC Cruises, said: “The availability of shore power at ports is one very important element of our continued commitment and progress towards decarbonization, and we are proud and honored that we can add New York to our journey towards net zero emissions.”

Andrew Kimball, President and CEO of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), added: “NYCEDC is making crucial investments from shore power upgrades at BCT and the recently approved Brooklyn Marine Terminal project to the forthcoming Manhattan Cruise Terminal master plan, ensuring the future of the cruise industry in New York City is sustainable, efficient and economically competitive.”

He also noted that “MSC Cruises’ shore power connection, and the connections of Cunard and Princess cruise ships in recent months, deliver on years of community feedback and mark a major step in electrifying New York’s waterfront.”

MSC stated that shore power capability has been standard on all its new ships since 2017, with ongoing efforts to retrofit older vessels. Currently, 16 of the company’s 23 ships are equipped for shore power, with another due to be upgraded by the end of the year.

The company recently marked a year of shore power use in Valletta, Malta, where the MSC World Europa connected to the local grid for 300 hours over 12 months. The following day, Explora Journeys’Explora I also used shore power in Malta for the first time.

In addition, the MSC Seaview recently conducted a test at the new shore power facility in La Spezia, Italy, while the MSC Poesia trialed plug-in technology at Le Havre, France.

MSC Cruises’ first shore power connection in the United States took place in April 2025, when MSC World America connected to the local grid at PortMiami.

The company added that in 2024, it used shore power in 13 ports and completed 142 successful connections — more than three times the number recorded in the previous year.