The cruise season has arrived in Monaco and will last until November.

Having already limited the size of visiting cruise ships and the number of passengers (EDITOR’S NOTE: up to 250 metres and 1,250 passengers), the Principality is also enforcing the highest standards in terms of eco-responsibility and safety, the Government said on Wednesday.

The cruise operations must be in line with the image of Monaco, its quality of life and its attractiveness.

The Société d’Exploitation des Ports de Monaco (SEPM) has the day-to-day responsibility of ensuring that visiting vessels meet rules in keeping with the “Clean Ports” certification awarded by AFNOR in 2021.

The objective of the implementation of these controls is to prevent pollution risks in compliance with international maritime agreements ratified by the Principality, such as the Barcelona Convention, in defining pollutant emission limits for maritime transport.

In addition, since 2021, the Principality has had a waste reception and treatment plan for ship operations, which aims to reduce ship operating waste and cargo residues at sea as well as illegal dumping by ships frequenting the ports of Monaco in order to preserve human and environmental health.

ORIGINAL SOURCE & PHOTO: Monaco Government Press Service