Sustainable shipping initiative sets out shared Commitments

International shipping coalition Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI), focused on uniting commercial growth with sustainable behaviours, has unanimously signed a set of shared commitments to set a clear benchmark for sustainable practices. By signing up to the commitments, each member has agreed to publicly report on sustainability, have a sustainability strategy that links to its core business, set clear reduction targets for environmental issues that
are most material to their activities (as per their impacts and an agreed list), and deliver a positive impact on people and society. The shared commitments will also be used as a guideline for new members’ requirements.

As progress is achieved, the commitments will be refreshed to stretch performance targets and future aspirations. Alastair Fischbacher, director, The Sustainable Shipping Initiative said: “The SSI’s members recognised that having consensus and consistency around some of the core elements of sustainable business practices is essential.

Due to the scope of the shipping supply chain and the players in it, these commitments have to be relevant to everyone, simple to understand and easily evaluated. At the same time, they need to be meaningful enough to set a benchmark for industry leadership. Putting a stake in the ground to fulfil these four areas in each member’s organisation will provide a foundation for demonstrating tangible progress over time, whilst we continue work as a group on addressing the challenges to a more sustainable industry in line with our Vision.”

Members will have until the end of the year to submit their delivery proposals to the SSI Secretariat. The cross-industry SSI members of over 19 companies represent ship owners and charterers, shipbuilders, engineers and service providers, banking, insurance, and classification societies. Member companies are ABN AMRO, AkzoNobel,

American Bureau of Shipping, Bunge, Cargill, Carnival Corporation, China Navigation Company, DNV GL Group, Gearbulk, Lloyd’s Register, IMC Group, Maersk Line, Namura Shipbuilding Co, Rio Tinto Marine, U-Ming Marine Transport Corporation, Unilever and Wärtsilä.