MSC Cruises Publishes 2023 Sustainability Report

MSC Cruises has released its 2023 Sustainability Report, providing a comprehensive review of its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance over the past year. This marks the fifth consecutive year of MSC's commitment to transparent sustainability reporting.

Key Highlights

Fleet Carbon Intensity Reduction

• MSC Cruises achieved a 6.5% improvement in fleet carbon intensity compared to 2022.
• Since 2008, carbon intensity has been reduced by 37.8%, putting MSC on track to meet the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) target of a 40% reduction by 2030.

LNG-Powered Vessels

• MSC launched its second liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered vessel, MSC Euribia.
• The vessel completed a net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions voyage from France to Denmark.
• LNG is seen as a crucial step toward maritime decarbonization, providing immediate GHG emission reductions and a pathway to renewable alternatives like bio-LNG and synthetic renewable LNG.

Shore Power Connections

• MSC completed 44 successful shore power connections at ports in Norway, Germany, the UK, and Malta.
• Shore power allows ships to plug into a port's electrical grid, reducing emissions by shutting down the vessel's engines.
• The 2024 target is 220 shore power connections, with MSC committed to utilizing shore power wherever available.

Freshwater Management

• The fleet produced 87.2% of its onboard water needs through desalination, totaling more than 6.4 million cubic meters.
• Efficient water use resulted in a reduction of onboard water consumption from 226 liters per guest day in 2022 to 187 liters in 2023, a 17.2% decrease.

Environmental DNA Project

• Collaborated with NatureMetrics to analyze seawater samples from three vessels.
• Identified over 4,000 different animal species using DNA identification techniques.
• Data contributed to the eBioAtlas, a global program by NatureMetrics and IUCN, supporting scientific research.

Operational Achievements

• Guest Numbers: The fleet carried 4,081,393 guests in 2023.
• Itineraries: MSC sailed 385 itineraries to 102 countries, offering 2,150 shore excursions.
• Workforce: Total workforce of 49,874 from 144 nationalities, with 18,866 new crew hires.
• Crew Initiatives: Introduced increased salaries, improved staff rotation, and more training programs.

Leadership Remarks

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Group’s Cruise Division, stated:

"Our commitment to reaching our goals remains as strong as ever. Our approach to environmental, social, and governance issues has become more sophisticated, reflecting our passion to make meaningful, measurable changes that have a long-term positive impact on our guests, our employees, and our planet."

MSC Cruises continues to advocate for fair regulation within the industry and collaborates extensively with partners, including shipyards, technology providers, and fuel suppliers, to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.