1 5 technologies companies, ports and other key stakeholders to the same table so we can better align our efforts and make rapid progress.” Vago is also advocating for central funding to support research and development programmes to accelerate the development of new technologies and fuels. “MSC Cruises’ ships already have dual-fuel engines that could be used with bio-based or synthetic LNG so we could theoretically start operating with zero emissions tomorrow, but these new fuels aren’t yet available at a commercial scale,” he says. “Suppliers need help to make this possible.” Ports need access to funding too. “By the end of 2022, more than half of MSC Cruises’ fleet will be able to connect to shore power and 93 per cent of newbuilds in the current global order book will have this capability, which means at least two-thirds of the global cruise fleet will be equipped by 2027,” says Vago. “However, there aren’t many ports that can meet this demand – only 0.6 per cent of Europe’s cruise berths are ready to provide shore power for example, so we need them to build the infrastructure.” Vago notes that it will cost an estimated €5 billion to install shore power facilities at just one-third of European cruise ports. “The scale of these investments must be addressed because EU rules may eventually force cruise lines to avoid ports that cannot provide shore power,” he says. “There are already many shoreside electricity collaborations underway between cruise lines, ports and public authorities, but we need to do more. The maritime industry’s transition to zero-emission operations is the biggest challenge we’ll ever face, and it will only be achieved by everyone playing their part.” To truly reduce the cruise industry’s environmental footprint, operators must also collaborate with ports, destination authorities, tourism bodies and shore excursion providers to promote sustainable tourism. “We want to take guests to the world’s best destinations but to do that we need the support of the communities we visit,” says Vago. “It’s crucial that we engage with key stakeholders and make port calls and onshore tours as eco-friendly as possible, while providing great socio-economic outcomes for the local communities.” One of MSC Cruises’ initiatives is to develop sustainable cruise terminals, all of which will meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification standards as a minimum. In summer 2021, MSC Cruises began constructing a new terminal in Miami, Florida, which will open with two berths but potentially be extended to add a third in the future to enable it to cater for 18,000 passengers per day. “The facility will reach at least LEED Silver standards and we’ve put a comprehensive environmental and social management system in place for the construction and subsequent operation of the terminal,” says Vago. “Meanwhile, our new terminal in Barcelona, Spain, is on track to meet LEED Gold rating and will provide both shore power and LNG bunkering. It will begin operating in 2023 and we plan to seek LEED Zero Energy and LEED Zero Water certification within the first 12 months.” MSC Group’s cruise division also continues to support its industry partners’ environmental stewardship initiatives, while helping tour operators around the world to implement ecoconscious practices. Both MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys have partnered with Travelife, a training, management and certification initiative that helps tourism companies to become sustainable using specialised indicators based on the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s Industry Standard criteria. “This partnership allows us to provide comprehensive online training and educational materials for our tour operator partners, so they can implement sustainable practices and achieve certification from a recognised sustainable tourism scheme,” says Vago. MSC Cruises has also developed a growing range of Protectours, which MSC Cruises’ terminal in Miami, Florida, will be designed to operate sustainably to ensure it achieves silver LEED certification KEYNOTE
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