Avoiding the northern route: MSC joins the club
The Switzerland-based MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has now also proclaimed to stay out of the Arctic - for environmental reasons. Like CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd, the carrier is thus joining a growing list of shipping companies that have pledged not to use the Northern Sea Route for shipping between Europe and Asia. MSC underlined in a statement that its decision is based on environmental concerns, adding that it will instead focus on improving environmental performance on existing global trade routes.
“As a responsible company with a longstanding nautical heritage and passion for the sea, MSC finds the disappearance of Arctic ice to be profoundly disturbing. Our industry should focus its efforts on limiting environmental emissions and protecting the marine environment across existing trade routes,” said Diego Aponte, president & CEO, MSC Group. Nevertheless, there are also rumours that the Arctic route is also avoided for political and economic reasons. (fd)