Environmental commitment
La Méridionale is a trailblazer when it comes to protecting the environment and promoting sustainable tourism. For over a decade now, it has been innovating, reducing the ecological footprint of its crossings to Corsica and Morocco. It has rolled out tangible initiatives, including on-board its ships, to limit its footprint and to raise public awareness.
Major initiatives to reduce the ecological footprint and protect the Mediterranean
Hand-in-hand with its partners, including Marseille-Fos Port, Solvay and Andritz, and Miraceti (formerly known as Souffleurs d'écume), La Méridionale imagines solutions that make sea transportation more sustainable.
La Méridionale, a company rewarded with several environmental labels
The Green Marine Europe certification
The environmental Green Marine Europe programme is inspired by a North-American approach and was developed for European shipowners by Green Marine and Surfrider Foundation Europe. This environmental certification programme focuses on a voluntary initiative to improve the environmental performance of sea transportation above and beyond regulatory requirements. In 2020, thanks to its efforts to reduce the footprint left by its crossings to Corsica and Morocco on the environment, La Méridionale became one of the first awardees of the Green Marine Europe label. This label validates these initiatives.
French shipowners association (Armateurs de France) Blue Charter
In 2013 and 2018, La Méridionale was awarded the French shipowners association (Armateurs de France) Blue Charter Trophy for its Social Responsibility initiatives; its work on CENAQ - its electrical shore-to-ship power (SSP) and its tests with a cutting-edge particle filter on Piana, the ferry to Corsica, played a key role in earning this award
Sustainable Tourism Prize
This award honours economic players in the tourism sector for their commitment, their initiatives and their innovative, exemplary, replicable actions, that stand out in the economic, environmental and social aspects of sustainable development. La Méridionale was granted this award in 2018, in particular for CENAQ - the project for the electrical connection of ships at berth (SSP). To find out more
The Mediterranean Sea is one of the world's 25 hotspots for biodiversity. To raise awareness to this wealth and to preserve it, La Méridionale undertakes initiatives with its partners.
Our other initiatives
Eco-navigation charter
In 2018, hand-in-hand with the French Office for Biodiversity, La Méridionale drafted and proposed an eco-responsibility charter for maritime transport.
This charter, concluded by the shipping company and the Network of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean (Calanques National Park, Port-Cros National Park, Marine Nature Park of Cap Corse and Agriate, Natura 2000 in the Marine Environment - Embiez/Cap Sicié), sets out their respective commitments:
- To train staff on biodiversity issues
- To inform and share knowledge with passengers
- To reduce fossil fuel consumption
- To reduce discharge and recover waste
- To monitor technological and regulatory developments
- To improve knowledge via participatory science initiatives
- The charter is designed to be adopted by other shipowners and players.
"P’tits Moussaillons" (Little Sailors) challenge
Every summer, La Méridionale invites children on-board its ferries to Corsica and to Morocco to take part in the "P’tits Moussaillons" (Little Sailors) challenge and to win prizes.
This fun-filled trail, imagined in partnership with an environmental protection player like Surfrider Foundation Europe, the French Underwater Archaeology Research Department - DRASSM, WWF, etc. makes young passengers and their families aware of the importance of protecting the environment.
CorSeaCare mission
The Mare Vivu association organizes scientific and environmental missions and public awareness initiatives. Their CorSeaCare mission, backed by La Méridionale, won the 2018 "Mon projet pour la planète" prize (My project for the planet), introduced by Nicolas Hulot when he was French Minister for Ecological and Inclusive Transition, as part of the Climate Plan.
Every summer, students and association volunteers sail along the Island of Beauty coastline in trimarans and kayaks. During their journey, they:
- Collect data on coastline biodiversity
- Undertake research on fauna and flora
- Inventory marine species
- Monitor bioacoustics in marine areas
- Assess plastic pollution
- Clean beaches
Educational initiatives, in the shape of entertaining workshops, film screenings and conferences are proposed throughout this journey
Our partners
Our customer awareness initiatives are proposed in various forms:
- screening documentaries in the cinema on-board the ship followed by a debate,
- conference followed by passenger question time.
These initiatives wouldn't fulfil their goals without the commitment of our partners and scientists who share their knowledge and their expertise. These include:
- Réseau Mer Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur (Marine Network)
- The French Underwater Archaeology Research Department (DRASSM) (DRASSM)
- WWF France
- French Office for Biodiversity
- Miraceti (formerly known as Souffleurs d’écume)
Surfrider Foundation
Surfrider Foundation Europe, founded in 1990, counts some 13,000 members who strive to protect and promote the oceans, the coastline as well as lakes and rivers.
The association has recognized expertise in the fields of water quality, coastal development and climate change.
La Méridionale and Surfrider Foundation Europe have organized conferences on-board ferries to Corsica to make passengers aware of environmental protection.
