Due to the extraordinary circumstances of last year, in which the global cruise industry came to a complete standstill as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's report focuses on the steps MSC Cruises has taken to ensure the sustainability of its business, adapt its operations, and prepare for a safe return of passengers and crew, along with key longer-term objectives, including decarbonization.
Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of MSC Cruises, said: “2020 was a year of great achievements, and MSC Cruises rose to the challenge posed by the pandemic. From the outset, we brought all our passengers and crew home safely, and then we were the first to launch our industry-leading Health and Hygiene Operating Protocol, which has redefined cruising and made it one of the safest holiday options both now and in the future. Furthermore, throughout this entire situation, we never lost sight of our commitments to being an ethical and sustainable company.”.
“We have made significant progress in protecting our planet by reducing emissions through investment in new technologies such as LNG, which brings us closer to achieving carbon-free operations by 2050, as well as other important achievements in caring for our people and the places we visit, improving our procurement practices, and providing emergency support through the MSC Foundation. This year’s report is another important milestone in our commitment to operating sustainably and with zero climate impact.”.
Having abruptly halted all itineraries for its entire fleet in March 2020, MSC Cruises had to manage the return home of tens of thousands of passengers in a matter of days, establish a repositioning site for the fleet, and begin repatriating the vast majority of its nearly 20,000 crew members in an increasingly complex and closed border environment. Due to this disruption, MSC Cruises experienced a 75% drop in the number of commercially operating days during the year and a 78% decrease in the number of passengers carried.
For the crew, closed borders and periods of isolation meant that some were unable to return home for many months. Therefore, all were well cared for during their time on board, provided with individual passenger cabins with every possible comfort, as well as additional emotional support services. While the Company explored viable ways to repatriate them safely, MSC Cruises' dedicated shore-based team offered crew members ongoing individual and group psychological support and assistance to help them cope with loneliness.
With the onset of the pandemic, MSC Cruises also quickly set up the necessary infrastructure to enable a seamless transition to remote work for employees on land. A leading global communication platform was introduced to keep the company connected and enable smart, efficient work. Human resources teams worked swiftly with our IT team to ensure a smooth transition for employees, providing online training on its use and application. More than 700 employees on land attended these sessions, supporting an effective and secure transition to remote work.
Alongside the immediate challenges brought on by the pandemic, MSC Cruises developed an industry-leading Health and Hygiene Protocol in partnership with the Blue Ribbon COVID-19 Expert Group, comprised of internationally renowned public health experts. MSC Cruises redesigned the entire cruise experience to provide passengers with a safe bubble from embarkation to their return home. As a result, MSC Cruises became the first cruise line to receive approval from the relevant national and regional authorities to resume cruise operations in the Mediterranean region. On August 16, MSC Grandiosa set sail from Genoa, Italy, on a seven-night voyage after screening all passengers and crew before embarkation, conducting regular checks on everyone on board, and implementing robust contingency plans to manage suspected cases in conjunction with local health authorities. MSC Cruises also developed a concept of "bubble excursions" to ensure the safety of passengers and local communities during port calls.
Furthermore, despite the pandemic, MSC Cruises has continued to achieve significant sustainability milestones in 2020, including the following:
- Ongoing commitment to decarbonization.
- Optimizing energy use.
- Preparation for LNG operations.
- Promoting innovation.
In addition, teams across the company have continued to work together permanently to further reduce plastic use and waste creation, as well as to lessen the Company's impact on marine life and biodiversity.
Linden Coppell, Chief Sustainability Officer at MSC Cruises, stated: “This report acknowledges the immediate challenges brought about by COVID-19 and, despite this, highlights our continued focus on fulfilling our environmental and social obligations and actions, while also addressing the growing demand for decarbonization. Currently, our industry is almost entirely dependent on fossil fuels. To achieve our goal of zero emissions, we will need to switch to new fuels and require the support of governments and regulators to enable this important transition in the cruise industry.”.
“Meanwhile, we remain committed to improving the energy efficiency of our current fleet and exploring the best ways to prepare for the future. This includes investigating the use of low-carbon fuels which, if available on a large scale, can replace existing fuels without significant modification to current machinery and systems.”.
