After a 17-month hiatus, the cruise industry is resuming in French ports. With 36 calls this summer and a maximum of two ships in port simultaneously, Marseille is also restarting cruise tourism in a safer and more environmentally friendly way, with an even higher quality of service.
Back in March 2020, a technical group was established with the participation of local port and health authorities—the Port of Marseille-Fos, the Bouches-du-Rhône Prefecture, the Marseille Fire and Rescue Service, the PACA Regional Health Authority (ARS), the Mediterranean University Hospital Institute for Infectious Diseases (an infectious diseases hospital), and the Marseille-Provence Cruise Terminal. As they resume operations, ocean and river cruise companies are relying on this unique mechanism to ensure that operations take place in a safe health environment. In fact, in coordination with the Marseille-Fos cruise terminals, they have implemented safety measures that go beyond those mandated by French and European regulations.
For excursions, a protective "bubble" has been established for passengers upon disembarkation and throughout their trip to prevent any risk of contagion for passengers, staff, or locals. Consequently, all individuals who come into contact with excursion passengers, such as guides and drivers, must present a negative PCR or lateral flow test. Excursions are organized in groups of no more than 35 people. Passengers are spread throughout the Provence region of Marseille to avoid overcrowding at the most popular sites and ensure they enjoy the best possible experience as visitors.
The new beginning is symbolized by the return of two cruise companies, MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises, with their flagship ships representing the pinnacle of environmental efficiency and customer experience, the Costa Smeralda and the innovative MSC Seaside.
This year, 2021, is the first in which the Marseille Cruise Club's Blue Charter, drawn up in 2019 and signed by local and national authorities and the Costa Group, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited, and Ponant, will be applied. It establishes four strict standards of conduct that exceed current regulations:
⮚ Use fuel with 0.1% sulfur, or other systems such as scrubbers, LNG, or catalysts that reduce the environmental footprint, within the port's control zone;
⮚ Reduce speed to 10 knots upon entering the port's control zone;
⮚ Promote port calls by LNG-powered vessels and develop dedicated refueling infrastructure;
⮚ Utilize shore power at the dock by 2025.
The Port of Marseille Fos, with the support of local and central governments, has invested over €50 million in a plan to provide shore-to-ship electrical connections. Marseille Fos is the first port in France, and the only one in the Mediterranean, to offer shipping companies shore power connections, a solution that reduces air pollution to zero when vessels are docked. To further reduce air pollution, the Port of Marseille Fos promotes the use of hybrid energy sources. Consequently, vessels that do not dock at piers with shore power connections will be powered by LNG.
According to a BVA study conducted in 2017 for the Bouches-du-Rhône Prefecture, the Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region, and the three local chambers of commerce and industry, the cruise sector generated €375 million for the Marseille-Provence economy. In Marseille, the cruise sector accounts for approximately 3,000 jobs and provides Marseille and its surrounding region with significant international exposure.
