MSC CRUISES WILL BECOME FIRST
COMPANY OF CRUISES IN THE NEUTRAL CARBON WORLD
FOR ITS MARITIME OPERATIONS

• All CO2 emissions from the MSC Cruises fleet will be offset by 1 January 2020 through a combination of high-level carbon neutral projects that will increasingly rely on blue carbon credits.

• This announcement is part of a larger vision of contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

• Continue to invest in advanced environmental technologies that deliver zero emission vessels

Brussels, 14th November.

On the occasion of the celebrations in Hamburg, Germany, for the inauguration of its new vessel, MSC Grandiosa, which is the most environmentally friendly to date, MSC Cruises announced its commitment to becoming the first global carbon neutral cruise company.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises said :

"We have been focusing on innovation since we started building our first cruise ships in 2003, and as a result we have one of the most modern offshore fleets, which also has the highest environmental performance.
Thanks to our long-term vision, we are already achieving a reduction of 29% in carbon in 2024 compared to 2008; and we are on track to reach our target of 40% in 2030. "
"In addition, we announced last week the launch of the PACBOAT project, which is to equip our future MSC Europa with fuel cells fueled by LNG.
This vessel will be the first of five LNG vessels to join our fleet.
This is not only a world first for a technology that promises to be more efficient for high-powered maritime operations, but also a new concrete example of our commitment to developing and supporting technology development. new generation that will enable our company and the entire cruise industry to complete zero-emissions operations. "
"We can recognize today that even the most advanced environmental technologies are insufficient to achieve carbon neutrality immediately.
This is why we are making an additional commitment today to ensure that our fleet does not have a negative impact on climate change as of January 1, 2020.
Our maritime legacy goes back more than 300 years, and as a family-owned company, we are constantly focusing on the long term.
For us, this is a new step forward in our efforts to protect the oceans, the destinations we visit and the communities we interact with. "

MSC Cruises will offset all direct emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from its fleet's maritime operations through a combination of high-level carbon neutral projects developed by leading international entities, with an immediate effect on gas emissions Greenhouse effect.
All costs incurred by these procedures will remain entirely the responsibility of the company.

Mr. Vago added :

"We will collaborate with global leaders with the ability to offset CO2 emissions with the highest level of integrity.
Our vision is also to invest in projects that provide quantifiable community benefits, protect the environment, and support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. "

And more specifically, MSC Cruises aims to develop a portfolio of carbon offsets solutions that integrate projects for the protection and restoration of oceans and coastal environments by absorbing more CO2 than today.
Blue carbon projects that focus primarily on coastal environments are now very rare, and MSC Cruises itself will support the development of what aims to become the first carbon credits to be generated from the vast oceans of the planet.
This allows for new ways to protect and encourage marine biodiversity, as well as support communities that rely on valuable marine resources.

Mr. Vago concluded :

"Blue carbon offsetting will be one of the main focuses of our commitment to ensure carbon neutrality immediately. We will put our teams and resources to work to support the development of these specific projects, and to implement certification processes.
These will generate this innovative form of compensation that will directly benefit oceans and coastal communities.
As these projects become available, we will rely on them in a growing way.