Environmental commitment

The Green Marine Europe certification

The Green Marine Europe environmental program was inspired by a North American approach and developed for European shipowners by Green Marine and Surfrider Foundation Europe. This environmental certification program is based on a voluntary initiative to improve the environmental performance of sea transportation beyond regulatory requirements.
In 2020, in view of its efforts to reduce the environmental impact of crossings to Corsica and Morocco, La Méridionale was one of the first awardees of the Green Marine Europe label.

French shipowners association (Armateurs de France) Blue Charter

In 2013 and 2018, La Méridionale was awarded the 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 the Piana, the ferry to Corsica, played a key role in earning this award.
Access our 2018 application file.

Sustainable Tourism Palm

The Sustainable Tourism Palm rewards economic players in the tourism sector for their commitment, initiatives and innovative, exemplary and "duplicable" actions excelling in the economic, environmental and social pillars of sustainable development. La Méridionale was awarded in 2018 in particular for the electrical connection of ships at bert (SSP).

Eco-navigation charter

In 2018 in collaboration with the French Office for Biodiversity, La Méridionale drafted and proposed an ecoresponsability charter for maritime transport.

Concluded between the shipping company and the Mediterranean network of marine protected areas (Calanques National Park, Port-Cros National Park, Maritime Nature Park of Cap Corse and Agriate, Natura 2000 in the Marine Environment - Embiez/Cap Sicié) it sets out respective commitments such as:

• Training staff on biodiversity issues
• Informing and sharing knowledge with passengers
• Reducing fossil fuel consumption
• Reducing discharge and recover waste
• Ensuring technological and regulatory developments
• Improving knowledge via participatory science initiatives
• The charter is intended 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 or Morocco to take part in the "P'tits Moussaillons" challenge and win prizes. 
This fun-filled trail, designed in partnership with a player specializing in environmental protection such as Surfrider Foundation Europe, DRASSM, WWF, etc. raises awareness of environmental protection among young passengers and their families.

CorSeaCare mission

The Mare Vivu association organizes scientific and environmental missions and actions to raise awareness among the general public. Their CorSeaCare mission, supported by La Méridionale, won the 2018 "Mon projet pour la planète" (My project for the planet) award, initiated by Nicolas Hulot when he was French Minister of Ecological and Inclusive Transition, as part of the Climate Plan.

Each summer, students and volunteers from the association sail along the coastline of the Isle of Beauty in kayaks and trimarans. During their journey, they :

• Collect data on coastal biodiversity
• Research the flora and fauna
• Inventory marine species
• Monitor marine bioacoustics
• Measure plastic pollution
• Clean beaches

Educational initiatives, in the form of fun workshops, film screenings and conferences are carried out throughout the journey.

Surfrider Foundation Europe

Founded in 1990, Surfrider Foundation Europe has 13,000 members who strive to protect and promote the oceans, coastlines but also lakes and rivers.

The association has acquired recognized expertise in the fields of water quality, coastal development and climate change.

La Méridionale and Surfrider Foundation Europe have organized conferences on board our ships for Corsica to raise passenger awareness of environmental protection.