The MSC Foundation
The MSC Foundation is a non-profit organisation established in 2018 to implement the MSC Group’s marine conservation, humanitarian, and sustainable development commitments worldwide.
The MSC Foundation is family-led and reflects the vision and values of its founders.
The MSC Foundation is a non-profit organisation established in 2018 to implement the MSC Group’s marine conservation, humanitarian, and sustainable development commitments worldwide.
The MSC Foundation is family-led and reflects the vision and values of its founders.
Our Vision
To restore the critical balance between people and nature within a generation.
The MSC Foundation is motivated by a deep sense of responsibility for the planet and its resources, particularly the oceans, embracing Captain Gianluigi Aponte’s vision that “we all have a duty to leave a better world for future generations.”
Our Mission
To utilise MSC’s global reach and unique knowledge of the sea to take immediate action that protects and nurtures the blue planet and its people.
Working in synergy, the MSC Foundation leverages the MSC Group’s maritime expertise to support long-term programmes with leading partners, assisting communities in need.
MESSAGES FROM OUR LEADERSHIP
Discover the personal insights from our leadership into our journey as we celebrate five years of impact and innovation.
Discover the personal insights from our leadership into our journey as we celebrate five years of impact and innovation.
I take great pride in our Foundation’s substantial progress as we mark the completion of its first five years. Our journey has been one of dedicated hard work and steadfast commitment to a bold vision of restoring the critical balance between people and nature. That we have achieved so much – from ocean conservation to emergency relief – in this relatively short period of time is eloquent testimony to the power of together.
Captain GIANLUIGI APONTE,
Chair of the Board
In reaching a 50% funding milestone for environmental conservation and significantly scaling up our humanitarian aid, we show how caring for vulnerable communities and preserving ocean biodiversity can go hand in hand.
PIERFRANCESCO VAGO,
Chair of the Executive Committee
2023 saw the Foundation make accelerated progress on the clear course we have charted over the past five years, thanks to the passion, dedication, and commitment of our founding family, Group, partners, and supporters. Our focus on the needs of the communities we serve and the importance of partnerships has been central to our success.
DANIELA PICCO,
Executive Director
Highlights 2023
Discover our key highlights from 2023 — from the people we reached to the countries we worked in, and the programmes and initiatives we supported. Scroll down to dive into our story!
to programmes and initiatives
Our focus areas
Community Support
Environmental Conservation
Education
Emergency
Explore our initiatives on the map: pass the cursor over a country and click to discover the programmes and initiatives we’ve carried out in 2023.
Discover our work around the world
Environmental Conservation
Community Support
Education
Emergency Relief
Scroll through our timeline
scroll through our timeline
12 months of milestones: scroll through the timeline to follow our year as it unfolded, month by month!
12 months of milestones: scroll through the timeline to follow our year as it unfolded, month by month!
With our unique knowledge of the sea, we are keenly aware of the increasing fragility of our planet’s ecosystems. We are committed to supporting programmes and initiatives that protect and restore our blue planet’s natural resources, varied species and human habitats. Discover what advancements we made in 2023 in our Environmental Conservation and Education focus areas:
With our unique knowledge of the sea, we are keenly aware of the increasing fragility of our planet’s ecosystems. We are committed to supporting programmes and initiatives that protect and restore our blue planet’s natural resources, varied species and human habitats. Discover what advancements we made in 2023 in our Environmental Conservation and Education focus areas:
For the planet
Super Coral Nursery
At Ocean Cay, we tested the response of 94 coral fragments from 4 genotypes of the critically endangered Elkhorn coral to open-water nursery conditions.
100% of these survived the unprecedented 2023 marine heatwave that led to mass coral bleaching across other areas of the Caribbean.
Coral Biodiversity Assessment
We joined forces with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to support a complete reassessment of the status and extinction risks of the world’s coral species. This work aims to update the 2008 global assessment of reef-building corals and involves over 100 coral experts in 30 countries, assessing data and submitting results to update The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM in 2024.
Environmental DNA Mapping for biodiversity
Through our partnership with NatureMetrics, we took seawater eDNA samples on 3 MSC Cruises ships across several routes. Through this, we identified and reported 4,522 species, including 17 on The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. The data is published on the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), accessible for free to scientists, policymakers, and conservationists for research and decision-making.
Coral Awareness-Raising
2 graduate student interns from Nova Southeastern University and the University of Miami trained at Ocean Cay and were supported in their research on reef-building corals. They produced 4 infographics to raise awareness of the importance of coral reefs and the role restoration plays in ensuring their future.
Guardian Dolphins
We have been supporting Marevivo’s Guardian Dolphins since 2015. This educational programme for primary school children aged 8-10 is delivered annually in schools on 10 of Italy’s minor islands and the town of Milazzo in Sicily to raise awareness of marine biodiversity, sustainable development and conservation of marine protected areas. In 2023, it involved 1,456 students and 229 teachers.
Nauticinblu
Nauticinblu is a training programme for students in nautical institute secondary schools aged between 15 and 17. It is designed by Marevivo and the MSC Foundation to equip them with the necessary tools to navigate the ongoing ecological transition and sustainably manage the planet. In 2023, it engaged 1,111 Nautical Institute Students (1,018 in Italy and 93 in Spain) and 83 teachers and managers (77 in Italy and 6 in Spain).
Together for Coral
In 2023, the MSC Foundation and the Ba’a Foundation completed their book “Coral Reefs: Challenges and Conservation in the Caribbean and Red Sea.” This full-colour, open-source publication expresses both foundations’ commitment to safeguarding the future of coral reefs, focusing on the vital marine ecosystems of the Red Sea and the Bahamas.
Mangroves Forest Restoration
The MSC Foundation and Qatar Foundation’s Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future signed a five-year partnership to restore up to 40 hectares of mangrove forests. The first mangrove nursery was established with 10,000 seedlings.
Pangaea X
We support Horn Foundation’s Pangaea X programme to guide and support young adults in developing their environmental projects that can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. In 2023, 100 young adults aged 18-30 participated in the kick-off event, submitting 20 projects. The winning group received a three-month incubation period for their projects.
For the people
Planet and people are interconnected: one cannot exist without the other. Discover some of our milestones in emergency relief and community support.
Planet and people are interconnected: one cannot exist without the other. Discover some of our milestones in emergency relief and community support.
From plastic bricks to classrooms
As a result of this programme with UNICEF in Côte d’Ivoire, 33 classrooms and 5 directors’ offices were rehabilitated, and 59 classrooms were equipped with school materials. 12,146 children now have better learning conditions, 171 teachers and pedagogical advisers were trained under the national programme, and 5,000 school kits were distributed to children.
Ships of hope
In 2023, our donations of ocean transport and inland logistical support played a key role in delivering food and medical supplies to Mercy Ships International’s hospital ships, the Global Mercy and Africa Mercy. This support facilitated the treatment of 6,144 patients and 3,647 surgeries. Additionally, 1,634 medical professionals and community leaders were trained.
Emergency Relief
The MSC Foundation supported international and local assistance measures on 4 continents in 2023. Through offers of free container transportation and container donations, core relief items were delivered to 850.000 people affected by disasters and refugees from Ukraine
YOMA
In Côte d’Ivoire, in collaboration with UNICEF, 380 young people received offline training in various fields, 47 developed and pitched innovative business ideas, and 5 projects underwent a 6-month incubation programme.
NYC Junior Ambassadors
In 2023, thanks to our support, the NYC Junior Ambassadors (NYCJA) programme empowered 670 7th graders and 41 teachers from 20 schools by developing their global perspectives and soft skills, involving 16 Ambassadors and over 60 UN officials.
NYC Parks GreenThumbs
For the NYC Parks GreenThumbs, we strengthened 7 community gardens in South Brooklyn by providing materials, technical assistance, and educational workshops. This support fostered health, resilience, and social connections for 264 gardeners and their families.
Meet our partners
New
Long-Standing
Cumulative Number of People Reached
Cumulative funding for programmes and initiatives
Over 5 years, the Foundation increased the amount of funding allocated to programmes and initiatives by 532%, with a cumulative total of CHF 12,000,000 by the end of 2023
Over 5 years, the Foundation increased the amount of funding allocated to programmes and initiatives by 532%, with a cumulative total of CHF 11,776,031 by the end of 2023
Discover our works on the waves
MSC Foundation Centres
An increasing number of ships across the MSC Cruises fleet have a dedicated MSC Foundation Centre. Welcoming guests of all ages, each Centre transforms the MSC Foundation from a name into a personal experience.
In 2023, we opened our 6th Centre on MSC Euribia, complemented by two additional touchpoints: the MSC Foundation Hallway and the MSC Foundation Lab. The latter is beautifully designed as an aquarium where children can play and learn about coral reefs and environmental stewardship.
MSC Foundation Day
Every MSC Cruises voyage features an MSC Foundation Day dedicated to fostering environmental awareness among young travellers. In 2023, 90,000 children participated in the Foundation’s interactive activities. For a whole day, these young participants engage in various activities that teach them about environmental conservation, all developed in collaboration with our Super Coral Programme and other long-term partners, Marevivo and UNICEF. This initiative educates and inspires the next generation to care for our oceans and, therefore, our planet.
I’m thrilled by the high level of interest and support shown by MSC Cruises guests for our work. Their enthusiasm and appreciation are truly inspiring. It’s a pleasure to help them play a role in our programmes and the impactful changes they are contributing to our planet and its people.
Barbara Leila Martinez Ibarra
MSC Foundation Representative on MSC Seascape
Grant Allocation by
focus area
Transparent Funding for impact
100%
100% DONATIONS GO DIRECTLY TO OUR PROGRAMMES & INITIATIVES
THANK YOU!
None of this would have been possible without you: our partners, donors, colleagues, volunteers, MSC Cruises guests and Advisory Board. Thank you for being a part of our journey to leave the world a better place for future generations.
