MSC reaffirms focus on Sustainability & Safety
The end of September marks two important dates that highlight key imperatives for MSC: Sustainability and Safety.
Flying the flag
On September 25, 2024, MSC joined organisations worldwide in raising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) flag at its Geneva headquarters to commemorate SDG Flag Day. Its sustainability roadmap was developed to directly contribute to 13 of the United Nations’ 17 SDGs, and by raising the flag, it reaffirms its ongoing commitment to these goals, the company emphasised in a release.
However, SDG Flag Day also reminds that much work remains. Only 17% of SDG targets are on track, nearly half show minimal progress, and over a third have stalled or regressed. Despite these setbacks, MSC remains committed to collaborating across and beyond its sector to drive the industry towards a more sustainable future.
As an active participant in the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and a member of the UNGC Ocean Stewardship Coalition, MSC is committed to accelerating the transition to a sustainable ocean economy in line with the Sustainable Ocean Principles. On September 23, alongside ocean business peers – spanning shipping companies, ports, cargo owners, energy suppliers, crewing companies and others – it endorsed a joint statement coinciding with the High-Level Ocean of the Future Meeting at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
More broadly, as part of its contribution to the SDGs, MSC is introducing over 100 new dual-fuel vessels to its fleet by end 2027, exploring partnerships to scale the use of alternative fuels, and rerouting ships to protect endangered whales. It is also rolling out electrified, hybrid or alternative zero-emission yard equipment across its terminals, expanding its landside operations to accelerate intermodality and promoting the shift from road to rail, and all the while ensuring that the economic and social benefits of global trade are maintained despite global disruptions.
World Maritime Day
The following day, September 26, was World Maritime Day, with this year’s theme: ‘Navigating the future: safety first!’ This serves as a timely reminder that as we transition to new technologies and fuels, crew safety must remain a top priority. MSC understands that innovation in sustainability must be matched by advancements in safety and supported by training programmes.
Its zero-fatality ambition is central to its approach to safety. By embedding industry-leading policies, it ensures that its global operations meet the highest standards, including ISO45001. It uses proactive risk-management tools, such as AI-powered navigational assistants that process multiple sources of information in real time, enhancing its ability to identify and evaluate complex marine traffic situations. As a result of efforts such as these, MSC Shipmanagement has seen a 45% reduction in lost time incidents involving its seafarers over the past three years.
A just transition
Equally importantly, it recognises that the energy transition needs to be safe, equitable and people-centric. MSC has been collaborating with stakeholders across the maritime community through the Maritime Just Transition Task Force, reflecting its commitment to supporting and preparing its seafarers for the changes ahead.
Accordingly, it places a strong emphasis on upskilling and reskilling its seafarers to meet the evolving demands of the maritime industry. Training programmes now include advanced bridge simulators to enhance decision-making and navigation capabilities. Dual-fuel engine-room simulators are also being used to prepare crews for the technical challenges related to its new vessels and the fuels and technologies used on them. Alongside these initiatives, digital learning platforms and continuous on-the-job training ensure that the MSC family remains adaptable and proficient, ready to safely operate the latest technologies and fuel systems.
As it commemorated both SDG Flag Day and World Maritime Day, these occasions serve as powerful reminders of its dual commitment to sustainability and safety. By investing in cleaner technologies and fostering a culture of safety across its global operations, MSC is not just navigating the future—it is shaping it through a just transition that balances innovation with the safety of its people, the release highlighted.
Source : Our Correspondent