1 3 3 For example, MSC Cruises’ sailings from Venice, Italy, had to be totally readjusted for the summer and autumn 2022 season. Ships are now using the ports of Marghera, Trieste and Monfalcone. Some capacity from the Baltic Sea also had to be moved to the Norwegian fjords at very short notice. “The switch to Norway was a challenge because we had two of our largest vessels, MSC Grandiosa and MSC Virtuosa, operating in the country and visiting ports that they hadn’t called at previously,” says La Scala. While it may be a challenge to find new ports of call, it is a welcome one. “Our team is also responsible for MSC Group’s luxury brand, Explora Journeys, and in its first year of operation starting in May 2023, it will sail to 60 ports that MSC Cruises has never called at before,” says La Scala. “Naturally, these are smaller ports than the ones that MSC Cruises visits and a great deal of work has to be undertaken in advance to make it possible. We’ve conducted technical feasibility studies and examined tidal patterns, anchorage points and shoreside facilities for guests.” Another challenge is to build a reliable pool of skilled deck and engine officers, given that the pandemic had a dramatic impact on the industry and staffing levels. “Thankfully, MSC Cruises didn’t send one vessel to the scrapyard, or pause our newbuilds programme, so we’ve benefited by attracting people trained up to a captain level from other lines that were adversely affected by the temporary halt in sailing,” says La Scala. Energy efficiency is of growing importance too, and there is much more work being done on every ship in the MSC Cruises fleet. “The requirement to meet the International Maritime Organization’s proposed Carbon Intensity Index means that we will need to track the current performance levels of all our ships and take their carbon intensity rating into consideration when planning itineraries,” says La Scala. “In this way, we can identify what plans, if any, need to be put in place before the requirements enter force in 2023.” Last but not least, La Scala commented: “Above all else, of course, safety is always at the front and centre of everything we do. It never is, and never will be, compromised.” CFR “ Safety is always at the front and centre of everything we do” MSC Grandiosa was the first cruise ship to return to international waters on 16 August 2021 after the pandemic forced the industry to pause operations worldwide in early 2020
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