Reflecting the high personal standards and love of the sea of its owners, MSC Cruises has incorporated the latest and best systems for protecting the environment into the new MSC Splendida, which will be christened by godmother Sophia Loren on July 12. Like her sister ship MSC Fantasia, the MSC Splendida effectively utilizes “green” technology to ensure that she preserves the beauty of the sea and the air wherever she travels.

The many environmentally friendly features onboard include:

· A five-stage Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) plant that processes all wastewater produced onboard. Although the effluent produced by this system is so pure that it could be discharged into the ocean without harming the ecosystem, it is stored onboard for later transfer to land-based waste systems in port.

· Innovative Stateroom Monitoring System technology in the staterooms and public areas provides nearly a 25 percent reduction in onboard energy use. For example, this system is able to detect an opened stateroom window or balcony doors, adjusting the room temperature setting in the climate control system accordingly.

· Special high-efficiency incinerators handle disposal of paper and cardboard waste onboard, while compacting machines and grinders sort and prepare aluminium and glass which is later recycled in port.

These environmental safeguards of MSC Splendida match those used on her sister ship, MSC Fantasia, which earned the distinction of being the first passenger ship to receive the prestigious ‘6 Golden Pearls’ award from Bureau Veritas in recognition as one of the greenest ships in the world. MSC Splendida is currently awaiting certification for this classification, which also includes meeting the highest standards for food quality and safety.

MSC Cruises cares about the environment and continues to take steps towards its improvement. The company was one of the first to sign the Venice Blue Flag agreement to reduce emissions in the Venice Lagoon through the use of ultra-low sulphur diesel fuel in its engines. For this year’s World Environment Day, on June 5, , on June 5, MSC Cruises offered free onboard screenings of the Home by photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, produced by Denis Carot, Luc Besson and François-Henri Pinault.