Although Switzerland has no sea or any sea shores, it has MSC Cruises which is the world’s largest privately-owned cruise line and brand market leader in Europe, South America and South Africa because this is a Swiss-based European company with deep Mediterranean roots.
A seafaring family since 1675, this brought the Mediterranean way of life to the rest of the world.
Founded in 1970 as the Mediterranean Shipping Company, MSC is now amongst the top leaders in cargo transport and MSC Cruises is now the fourth largest cruise company in the world.
For 300 years, the Aponte family from the Sorrento Peninsula built a long and impressive history of seafaring and shipbuilding and dedicated itself to navigating the oceans of the world. Today, it has a fleet of 18 state-of-the-art cruise ships and is deservingly known as the Masters of the Sea.
It is this passion that has driven MSC to establish a cruise company that gives everyone the possibility to discover the world by sea. Their passion has also made it strive to become the Master of Food at sea; every day you may discover new and exciting dishes, prepared on board using fresh ingredients. With over 20 hours of breath-taking entertainment and theatre shows every day, MSC are the masters of entertainment at sea too.
The Mediterranean Shipping Company chose Malta as its centre for experimentation, and continual growth because Malta is after all the centre of Mediterranean life and development. It is also financially the most economic worthwhile while access to the sea is all around the two islands of Malta and Gozo with little travel distance. In addition, for many years Malta has been the centre of cruise voyages around the Mediterranean and a world-wide network.
In further experimentation, now, MSC has introduced MSC Explora II to be connected to a shore-to-ship system for the first time in Malta’s Grand Harbour
At Boiler Wharf in Senglea, Prime Minister Robert Abela went on board the Explora II ship, chosen by MSC as the most suitable port to conduct its tests in using shore-to-ship power technology.
Once again, MSC chose Malta to carry out these tests during the GreenPort Congress and the ‘Decarbonising the Future’ conference, which bring together maritime sector stakeholders focused on sustainable, environmentally friendly practices.
This superyacht is the first of its kind from MSC to ever be connected to land-based electricity in Europe.
Since the launch of the shore-to-ship project in Malta, MSC Cruises vessels have spent over 300 hours connected to land-based electricity at the Grand Harbour.
Prime Minister Robert Abela emphasised the positive impact of Malta’s shore-to-ship power project, which has now been operational for over a year. The initiative is significantly improving air quality for approximately 17,000 residents living around the Grand Harbour, with ship-generated emissions to be reduced by an impressive 90% by 2030.
Over the past year, the system has been used on 80 calls, supplying approximately 3.7 million kilowatt-hours of electricity. This represents a strong utilisation rate when compared to other major European ports, especially notable given that many vessels are still being retrofitted to support shore power connectivity.
Accompanied by Minister for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness Miriam Dalli and Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works Chris Bonett, Prime Minister Abela underlined the progress on other shore-to-ship connections under development at the moment, including the Grand Harbour and the Freeport.
He stated, “We are demonstrating how Malta is combining economic growth with environmental responsibility. Theshore power system in the Grand Harbour is an investment in cleaner air and sustainable tourism, an area in which we want to continue to attract high quality. We are setting a new standard for the Mediterranean region.”
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of the Cruise Division of the MSC Group, said, “These developments show how technology and investment can deliver immediate environmental benefits. Malta was the first port in the Mediterranean to implement shore-to-ship power using sustainable infrastructure that supports both environmental objectives and tourism. We have a long-standing partnership with the Maltese Government, and we thank them for their continued support.”
Malta’s Grand Harbour is the largest of natural ports throughout Europe with a grand history amassed over many centuries and is an economic lifeline to both Malta and Gozo.
It first won economic and political fame in 1565 when the invading Moorish Turks tried for three months to win the administration of the port but were stoutly prevented from doing so. Their failure to do so eventually led to their defeat, a defeat that was thoroughly admired throughout Christian Europe.
Its main reputation was however earned during World War II when between 1939 and 1945 it came in daily attacks from the Italian and German aerial forces but they were completely repelled.
This led to Malta being awarded the George Cross by King George VI, the official name of Malta today, i.e. Malta GC.
Through the determination of MSC and its ship-to-shore experimentation and development, it is still playing a leading part in today’s international marine affairs.
ALBERT FENECH
salina46@gmail.com
