The president of MedCruise, Figen Ayan, and the members of the MedCruise board of directors, put sustainability as one of the axes of their 2021-2024 mandate, and European law requires reducing emissions by 55% in 2030.
European countries are working on new legislation to meet not only this objective, but also that of being “carbon neutral” in 2050. One of them is regulation 2023/1805 of September 13, 2023, which establishes reductions in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in ships of 2% from 2025 and 80% from 2050. In addition, it establishes important incentives for the use of Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO).
Another important requirement of European regulation is the obligation for ports to supply sustainably sourced electricity to ships (OPS – Onshore Power Supply) while they are in port so that they can turn off their engines, starting in 2030. This is an important challenge in terms of technical projects, permits and works, which falls on port organizations in a short period of time.
Not only ships are emitters, but port and auxiliary activity itself generates its own emissions. This is why, at MedCruise, the association of cruise ports in the Mediterranean and adjacent seas, two of the twelve members of the board of directors are dedicated to sustainability, although all members can contribute ideas or points of view on this topic. Jamil Ouazzani is responsible for “Ecosystems and Sustainability”, and Valeria Mangiarotti is responsible for “Environmental technical solutions”.
The cruise industry has taken two clear paths, the use of LNG in most new ships, and the provision of electrical shore connection for both new ships and those already in service.
MedCruise initiatives as organization
Professional Development
MedCruise offers quality training to its associates under the Professional Development Course (PDC) program to better understand the opportunities to make a cruise industry more sustainable.
At the PDC 2022 that took place in Istanbul, there was a presentation by the prestigious international expert Miguel Nuñez-Sanchez, Doctor in Naval and Ocean Engineering and negotiator representing Spain in the International Maritime Organization regarding GHG policies, and before the EU for the “Fitfor55” goal
Nuñez-Sanchez prepared a program that ranged from challenges and opportunities in the regulatory framework, sources of pollution and GHG, to global and regional measures to increase sustainability in cruise traffic.
At the end of the course, more than 30 participants declared they returned home with the essential knowledge and appropriate terminology to understand, discuss, and make related decisions for the benefit of their organizations or companies.
PDC 2024 took place from January 15 to 17 aboard the MSC Fantasia, covering topics such as energy management on board cruise ships; recycling and water purification facilities; MSC Cruises sustainability strategies and plans; and a workshop on waste and circular economy.
Michele Francioni, Senior Vice President of MSC Cruises; Ivana Melillo, Head of Energy Efficiency and Funded Projects at MSC Cruises; and Marieta García Prieto, President and managing partner of the GEA Cooperative; were in charge of introducing the 38 attendees, from 10 different countries, to these topics. These 38 attendees represented 25 member ports and 4 associate members.
BlueMissionMed
MedCruise is also an active partner in the European BlueMissionMed project, which aims to “prevent and eliminate pollution in the Mediterranean Sea and European waters” by serving as a connection for initiatives that can be scaled by mobilizing relevant actors to achieve their objectives.
One register, one tree
MedCruise has started a campaign whereby they plant a tree for each registration at their semi-annual general meetings.
- At the 60th General Assembly of Costa Brava in May 2022, 185 trees were planted.
- At the 62nd General Assembly in Corfu in May 2023, 160 trees were planted.
- At the 63rd General Assembly in Burgas in October 2023, 110 trees were planted.
80% no-print policy
The association has chosen not to print 80% of its publications.
- All MedCruise publications are online only
- Business cards for the presidency, secretary and board of directors are offered through a digital QR code.
- MedCruise works with related media to reduce printing.
