22 I SAFETY4SEA Log I May 2025 I ISSUE 103 safety4sea.com OP I N I ON around the topic of ESG in the shipping industry, vessel operators are beginning to address it with greater seriousness. However, there is a need for these often internal dialogues to evolve from an arm’s length view to recognition of the near term risks. Even where national legislation doesn’t demand detailed reporting, there is a growing desire to align with the prevailing trend. This increased awareness reflects the emergence of the issue as a reputational risk, particularly thanks to investigations by the media, NGOs and IGOs. Other countries with whom the EU is a major trading partner are developing similar requirements and aligning them with the directives. Nations including Canada, Australia and IMPROVING SUPPLY CHAIN TRANSPARENCY CAN HAVE A BOTTOM-LINE BENEFIT Vessel owners and operators in the EU were some of the first to come under pressure from clients and investors to comply with ethical sourcing programmes and to report on labour practices and human rights in their supply chain. This was driven in no small part by national and regional regulation which aimed to codify best practice into law. Even with lawmakers apparently ready to slowdown timelines for EU directives, interest is growing here and across the Middle East and Asia - regions which are not subject to direct regulation - to adopt an approach that prioritises transparency. Pressure for disclosure Despite some residual cynicism Shipowners and operators are under pressure to validate their suppliers’ performance and can lower costs and save time in the process, writes Paul Stanley. Paul Stanley CEO Achilles
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