Doha, November 13 (QNA) - Doha Port hosted Sunday evening the naming of the passenger ship, MSC World Europa, which provides 5-star hospitality to fans of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, in the presence of HE Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani and several officials and stakeholders in the hospitality and travel sector in the country.
The naming ceremony, a long-standing maritime tradition, was held in partnership between Qatar Airways and the MSC Cruises Group at the new terminal designated for receiving large cruise ships in Doha Port, to inaugurate its newest floating hotel cruise MSC World Europa.
During the ceremony, HE Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani welcomed the arrival of MSC World Europa on the shores of Doha, expressing pleasure and honor to join the attendees in the long-standing maritime tradition - the naming ceremony of the MSC World Europa.
Her Excellency noted that the ship, powered by LNG, one of the cleanest fuels in the world, is part of a technology that promises to save the ocean more efficiently than any other cruise ship so far.
During the ceremony, Her Excellency announced a national program to conserve and restore Qatar's coastal ecosystems, through concerted efforts between Qatar University, Qatar Foundation's Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future, and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, as a result of joint cooperation between QF and MSC.
HE Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker commented, "While Qatar Airways is the global aviation gateway to Qatar, the marine industry is very important to tourism and the long-term economic and cultural connections it brings. As sustainability is vital to the future growth of aviation, MSC World Europa illustrates how the marine industry is addressing the challenges of efficiency and emissions reductions. The naming ceremony of MSC World Europa is an important prelude to the FIFA World Cup 2022 and shows the enormous endeavor and collaboration necessary to deliver the best World Cup ever." In his speech during the naming ceremony of the floating hotel, HE Secretary-General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy Hassan Al Thawadi highlighted the 12-year journey of tight preparation in the State of Qatar to organize the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, shedding light on the efforts made the first carbon-neutral edition of the tournament and the implications of a Middle Eastern country hosting a sporting event of this scale.
Executive Chairman of the Cruise Division of MSC Group Pierfrancesco Vago said, "Just like Qatar, our Group has placed climate change at the forefront of its agenda. We are committed to reaching net zero carbon from our cruise operations by 2050. MSC World Europa is our most innovative vessel. She is the world's best-performing cruise ship in terms of CO2 emissions per guest. Running on LNG, the cleanest fossil fuel and, of course, Qatar's most renowned export." Vago continued, "Over the years, we have proven our commitment to supporting Qatar's economic diversification, which is guided by Qatar National Vision 2030. And of course, to further developing Qatar's profile as a global tourism destination. Qatar has a wonderful tourism offering to meet a huge variety of interests, and an array of destinations. In 2016, our own MSC Fantasia became the first major cruise ship to call at Doha. We have been reliable partners ever since. And today, we renew our commitment to Qatar by homeporting our most modern and innovative ship in Doha." MSC World Europa is the most innovative and environmentally advanced cruise ship in the MSC Cruises fleet. On top of ground-breaking advances in terms of reduction of emissions and energy efficiency, the LNG-powered ship also paves the way towards the uptake of carbon-neutral synthetic and other alternative fuels as soon as they are available at scale.
Spanning 22 decks, with 215,863 GTs, 47 meters wide, 40,000 m2 of public space, and 2,626 cabins, MSC World Europa is an ultramodern urban metropolis at sea offering a veritable world of different experiences whilst setting a new standard for the cruise industry.
The event included various shows from local artists, a cutting-edge video-mapping projection onto the ship's hull, a huge drone show, and a grand finale performance by international singer-songwriter Matteo Bocelli, presenting his solo work for the first time in Doha. (QNA)