by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 2:50 PM ET, Thu June 20, 2024
MSC Cruises published its 2023 Sustainability Report on June 20, reporting on the sustainability initiatives the cruise line, and its small-ship luxury line, Explora Journeys, have been implementing, along with detailed metrics surrounding their environmental impact.
MSC Cruises’ 22 ships carried over four million guests in 2023 and employed just under 50,000 crew members representing 144 different nationalities.
“We began publishing an annual Sustainability Report in 2019, making this our fifth report. During that time, our commitment to reaching our goals remains as strong as ever,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, MSC Group’s Cruise Division. “Our approach to environmental, social, and governance issues has become more sophisticated as we have employed more ways to manage our activities in a more dynamic manner.”
“This reflects our passion to not just align with stakeholder expectations and navigate a complex regulatory landscape, but to make meaningful measurable changes that have a long-term positive impact on our guests, our employees and our planet,” continued Vago.
Progress Towards Net Zero
MSC Cruises is working towards reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and has several different initiatives it can celebrate in 2023.
The line’s carbon intensity improved 6.5 percent from 2022, marking a total increase of 37.8 percent from 2008, on track to achieve its goal of a 40 percent reduction before 2030. Its second LNG-powered ship, MSC Euribia, launched with a net zero maiden voyage last year.
It also achieved 44 shore power connections at eight ports across Europe. When a ship is plugged into shore power, its direct emissions are eliminated, as its able to plug directly into a destination’s power grid. MSC Cruises has an ambitious goal of reaching 220 connections this year.
Saving Resources and Marine Life
The cruise line has been working towards saving precious resources like water. Onboard water consumption fell 17.2 percent year over year, from 59 gallons used per guest day to 49 gallons in 2023.
Explora I became the first ship to ban single-use plastics. Guests are given refillable water bottles made of aluminum to use and refill throughout the ship. Across MSC’s fleet, the ships consistently manage waste by properly recycling any recyclable waste materials, and this has increased from 35.3 to 41.1 percent year over year.
Additionally, MSC Cruises actively seeks to protect marine life across the globe. In 2023, it partnered with NatureMetrics to analyze seawater samples taken from three MSC Cruises ships, using eDNA to identify over 4,000 animal species.
Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the line’s private island oasis, was also named a ‘Hope Spot’ by Mission Blue, becoming one of 154 Hope Spots worldwide. The line also trained 226 of its officers in a comprehensive whale strike mitigation program through ORCA to encourage the prevention of whale strikes by cruise ships.
Social & Crew Improvements
MSC has also been making improvements to the wellbeing of its crewmembers. In 2023, it appointed Magali Bertolucci to the new role of Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing. Following the challenges of the pandemic, in 2023 it introduced the BETTER program for crewmembers, which reduced turnover from 35 percent to 17 percent.
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