MSC Cruises is making use of shore power capability for the first time this summer in the UK and Germany.
MSC Virtuosa will plug in at the port of Southampton’s new Horizon Cruise Terminal and MSC Poesia at the German port of Rostock-Warnemünde.
Shore power enables ships to turn off their engines and connect to local electric power to run their onboard systems.
The process prevents emissions produced from diesel generators, improving local air quality as well as reducing noise and vibration levels, according to the line.
Southampton is the first port in the UK to provide shore power for cruise vessels and will be used by MSC Virtuosa between May and the end of the summer season.
Sustainability director Linden Coppell said: “We look forward to using shore power in Southampton and Warnemünde throughout the summer season and we congratulate the port authorities for their forward-thinking and innovative commitment.
“We are continuously striving to improve our environmental footprint, and shore power allows us to do so by drastically reducing our ships’ emissions while berthed.
“We need more ports in other key markets in Europe to introduce shore power as quickly as possible thus joining our efforts towards net-zero emissions by 2050 and greatly reducing our local air emissions.”