MSC Cruises Welcomes First Guests to Ocean Cay in Bahamas
7,500 tons of scrap metal was removed and throughout the clean-up process
MSC Cruises welcomed the very first guests to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, its new private island destination in The Bahamas.
The island’s opening is a major milestone for MSC Cruises. As part of a multi-faceted restoration strategy, the Company has transformed the island from what once was an industrial sand excavation site into a stunning tropical destination and has worked with environmental engineers and other experts to revitalize the surrounding ocean beds, marine life and endangered coral.
The environmentally-sound development of Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve is a unique feat and it took nearly three years to complete an island destination capable of delivering the best possible Guest experience as well as meeting the Company’s uniquely ambitious environmental targets.
tons of scrap metal was removed and 7,5007 throughout the clean-up process, a team of expert divers and marine biologists carefully removed individual hard coral colonies from debris on the ocean bed and relocated them to an approved location outside the construction area. Actions were taken to create a biodiverse and sustainable environment and more than 75,000 plants and shrubs were planted across the island.
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises, said: “Ocean Cay is founded on a deep commitment to ecological principles – beliefs that shape everything from how venues are built, to how the island is run, to the kinds of activities featured on the island. Having the first guests arrive on the island is a moment of great pride for all of us at MSC Cruises. We wanted to create for our guests something sustainable, with a higher purpose. Ocean Cay is not just a holiday island, it is a unique marine reserve where people and nature thrive in Harmony
