Sail Away At Home

Sustainable cruising a bright future Opposite, protecting Mare's natural environment. is a priority. tadine harbour Centre, locals are involved in trade and Shore Tours when passengers disembark in port. preserving culture Left, preserving Pacific Island cultures and traditions is essential. P&O Cruises' 2011 Sustainability Report is now available online. So what's it all about, and what does it mean for the destinations we visit? The Pacific Islands and surrounding ocean are among the most bio-diverse and beautiful regions in the world and have sustained the livelihoods and culture of Pacific people for centuries. For the past 80 years, these people have shared their homes with us and to ensure we have the chance to keep enjoying these extraordinary places, we need to do so with footprints in the sand, rather than footprints in carbon and concrete. As the leading Pacific Islands cruise line, we're determined to make positive contributions to this special destination and manage our impact upon it. We believe sustainability, transparency and ethical work practices are the only way to create positive benefits for everyone involved. After all, sustainability isn't just about nature: it's about supporting local communities and businesses, and respecting employees, too. Among our initiatives, we aim to source more crew from Pacific Island communities and are already recruiting onboard staff from Vanuatu and Fiji. We're also committed to going beyond the existing laws and community expectations in the way we run our business. As the 2011 Sustainability Report explains, we're making strides in our environmental initiatives too. P&O Cruises works with local communities to address issues such as litter collection and overcrowding, and provides passengers with education about environmental sensitivity in remote places. Through scientific assessment and local community consultation, we've developed Remote Destination Management Plans to track our impacts on the ports we visit. Mare, in the Loyalty Islands, with its spectacular cliffs, reefs, limestone caves, grottos and natural aquariums, received a Remote Destination Management Plan before the maiden arrival of Pacific Jewel in April 2012. "Mare has a fantastic environment and well-preserved culture," says Michael Mihajlov, Destination Manager for Carnival Australia. "It was important to study our social and environmental impact and take precautions to preserve its environment and social fabric." The plan brought community leaders from neighbouring islands together to help Mare's leaders address opportunities for businesses including souvenir shops, a shuttle service to Yejele Beach and Shore Tours. It also identified sustainable options for landing up to 2,000 passengers at a time in Tadine Harbour. Sensitive habitats were assessed and environmentally responsible ideas for touring were studied. The need to protect Tadine Harbour's pristine waters resulted in the construction of a special jetty and boardwalk. "It is built of recycled plastics and sustainable wood, with a special area where guests can swim while waiting for the tenders," Michael says. "Happily, it leaves the most delicate of footprints in this stunningly beautiful harbour." From our first destinations in the Pacific Islands 80 years ago, to places we're visiting for the first time this year, P&O Cruises works hard to achieve a balance between providing guests with new places to explore and our responsibility to manage the impact of this. We trust we're getting it right, and will keep on putting sustainability at the heart of our operations. to download our 2011 Sustainability Report. Sail Away. Spring 2012 11

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