MSC Cruises yesterday broke ground on its conservation center on Ocean Cay, where students from the University of Miami and Nova Southeastern University will conduct coral research.
Ocean Cay is MSC’s private island, located roughly 20 miles south of Bimini.
Ken Musket, chief operating officer of MSC Cruises USA, said the conservation center is expected to be completed in less than a year.
He said research at the center will focus on super corals and their ability to survive in warming waters.
Musket hailed the project as a showing of the company’s commitment to sustainability.
“MSC cruises is completely committed to improving natural resources and being environmentally friendly,” he said.
“The entire cruise industry is very much focused on that.
Not only do you see it in things that we talked about today in Ocean Cay with the conservation center and what we’re doing with super coral and research and marine life, but also the way that we operate these ships and becoming net-zero carbon impact by 2050 …
“So, everything possible from an environmental and a marine perspective, to be friendly to the waters as the cruise industry continues to grow, is very important.”
The cruise industry is notorious for its history of unsustainability, pollution, and contribution to marine degradation.
Two years ago, Carnival Corp was fined $20 million after admitting to dumping food and plastic waste in Bahamian waters.
Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis said MSC’s project is “exactly the kind of initiative” that his government wants to prioritize and called for MSC to be mindful of other issues.
“As you drive this venture forward to what will hopefully be a very successful future, I encourage you to also keep other causes in sight,” he said.
“So, for example, we navigate the shipping lanes, how we observe strict adherence to regulations concerning waste and pollution.
“And we can do whatever we possibly can to avoid damaging the seabed and those prized coral reefs every time we lay an anchor in our beautiful aquamarine waters.”
He added, “We are committed to working together in a spirit of partnership.”
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source https://thenassauguardian.com/msc-cruises-breaks-ground-on-conservation-center-on-ocean-cay/
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