Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises executive chairman says: "Our focus on innovation since we built our first cruise ships in 2003 ensures that we have one of the most modern fleets at sea, as well as one of the highest environmentally performing. Thanks to our long-term planning, this will allow us to already achieve a fleet-wide reduction of 29% in our carbon intensity (rate) by 2024, as compared to our 2008 rate. We are well on our way to meet the 40% reduction target set for 2030.
"Additionally, last week we announced that the LNG-powered fuel cells PACBOAT project will be hosted onboard MSC Europa – the first of 5 LNG-powered cruise ships that are due to join our fleet. This is not only a world-first for a technology that promises to be most efficient for high-power maritime operations, but also yet another concrete example of our firm commitment to partner and support the accelerated development of the next-generation technologies that will lead us and this industry to zero-emissions ship operations."
"As we recognise that today’s most advanced maritime environmental technology alone is insufficient to immediately reach carbon neutrality, the further commitment we are making today ensures that our fleet makes no negative contribution to climate change, as from 1 January 2020. We are a company with over 300 years of maritime heritage and have a historical focus on the long-term that is especially typical of family-owned businesses like ours. For us, this is another step forward in our long-standing commitment to protecting the oceans, the destinations we visit and the port communities we touch."
MSC Cruises will offset all direct carbon dioxide emissions from its fleet marine operations through a blend of carbon offset projects developed according to the highest standards by leading international entities that take immediate action on greenhouse gas emissions. All costs for the offsets, as well as any other associated items, will be covered directly and in full by the company.
Vago adds: "We will work with leading providers in carbon offsets who are able to offset CO2 emissions with the highest level of integrity. Our vision is to also invest in projects that provide quantifiable community benefits, protect the environment and support the UN Sustainable Development Goals."
In particular, MSC Cruises aims to develop a carbon offset portfolio that incorporates projects that protect and restore ocean and coastal habitats while also absorbing more CO2 than currently occurs. As Blue Carbon projects that focus mainly on coastal habitats are currently scarce, MSC Cruises will itself support the development of what aims to become the first carbon credits to be generated from the earth’s vast ocean.
This will constitute an important new means for protecting and enhancing marine biodiversity and to support communities that rely on the highly pressurised resources of the sea.
"Blue carbon offsets will be a specific area of focus of our commitment to ensure carbon neutrality with immediate effect. We will put our people and our resources to work to also support the development of the specific type of projects, and the enabling certification processes, that can generate this innovative form of offsets that directly benefit the oceans and communities that live by the sea. As more of these become available, we will steadily increase our reliance on them as an additional area of focus within our overall long-term commitment to achieving zero-emissions operations," concludes Vago.
