MSC Cruises first major line to attain ‘Green Marine Europe Certification’

MSC Cruises first major line to attain ‘Green Marine Europe Certification’
Edited by Travel Weekly


MSC Cruises has become the first major line awarded the Green Marine Europe Certification, a voluntary environmental certification programme for the maritime industry.

Green Marine Europe is a partnership between the North American environmental certification programme Green Marine and the Surfrider Foundation, a leading European Union NGO in ocean and maritime protection.

MSC Cruises achieved the highest possible score across eight performance indicators that the organisers said represented ‘environmental excellence and leadership’. 

The program has a number of performance indicators:

  • Pollutant air emissions – sulphur dioxide and particulate matter
  • Nitrogen dioxide pollutant air emissions
  • Greenhouse gas emissions
  • Oil discharge
  • Waste management
  • Underwater radiated noise
  • Responsible ship recycling
  • Aquatic invasive species

Captain Minas Myrtidis, MSC Cruises’ VP of environmental operations and compliance today collected the award on behalf of the line at a ceremony held in Bilbao, Spain.

We are immensely proud to be awarded the highest possible rating across all of the criteria,” he said.

“The Green Marine Europe certificate is testament to the hard work and commitment of everyone throughout our business, both onboard and ashore, who have dedicated their collective efforts to help MSC Cruises towards achieving its sustainability goals. 

“Our certification underscores our strong performance credentials as well as our commitment to performance improvement, transparency and accountability.” 

MSC Cruises plus its sister company and luxury brand Explora Journeys have committed to measure their environmental performance annually and submit their results to Green Marine Europe for its external accredited verification. 

Both lines have set targets to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 

The emissions intensity of MSC Cruises’ ship operations has decreased by 33.5 per cent since 2008 and the Company is confident in achieving a 40 per cent reduction by 2030.

In June, the line’s flagship MSC Euribia achieved the world’s first net zero greenhouse gas emissions cruise ship voyage from France to Denmark on a mass balance basis.  

Latest News

  • Aviation
  • Breaking News

Air Vanuatu set to fly again after court decides to allow restructure

Air Vanuatu will return to the skies after a restructure by Ernst and Young was approved today by the Supreme Court of Vanuatu. The national carrier is set to fly again, after the Supreme Court of Vanuatu ratified the Deed of Compromise approving an Ernst and Young-led restructure and transferring the company’s shares to AV3 […]

  • Aviation
  • News

Qatar Airways expands to Canada with launch of Toronto flights

Qatar Airways will launch a new service to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) starting on 11 December 2024, with three weekly non-stop flights from Hamad International Airport (DOH). As the airline’s fourteenth gateway to the Americas, the new Toronto route marks the airline’s second destination in Canada, joining Montréal which has served more than 1.6 […]

  • News

ATIA wins big with federal inquiry into tourism and international education

The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) has announced a positive advocacy development, with the Federal Parliament’s inquiry report into Australia’s tourism and international education sectors, incorporating many of ATIA’s key recommendations. The report, titled ‘Are we there yet?’: From recovery to resilience – opportunities and challenges for Australia’s tourism sector, reflects ATIA’s submission and evidence […]

  • Conferences

Iconic ‘Spirit of Sydney’ artwork takes pride of place at ICC Sydney

International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney), managed by ASM Global, has announced the addition of the monumental artwork ‘Spirit of Sydney’ by renowned Australian artist Frank Hodgkinson to its collection. Normally reserved for event attendees, members of the community were able to view the iconic ‘Spirit of Sydney’ mural at the venue’s art tours, guided […]

  • Aviation

Etihad Airways offers price cuts on flights for European winter

Etihad Airways has launched deals on select destinations for flights booked by 4 October for travel starting now until 22 March 2025. Round-trip economy fares start from $1,216 to Barcelona, and business fares start from $6,016 for a trip to Vienna. If you book directly on the website you can win a free stopover in […]