Sustainability

Oceans, seas and coastal areas cover the vast majority of our planet’s surface, as two-thirds of the planet is water. Oceans are a life-giving force considering the fact that our drinking water, weather, climate, food, and oxygen, are driven by the sea. For this reason, it is of vital importance to protect the seas through enhanced ocean conservation and sustainable practices.

Marking the World Oceans Day on June 8 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called on all governments and peoples to play their part to ensure that the world's oceans are protected for future generations, warning that they face major threats in the years ahead.Ban, in a statement issued to mark World Oceans Day, outlined what he called "many severe challenges related to oceans."World Oceans Day, which falls on Wednesday, is being celebrated around the world. ' "These range from depleted fishery resources, the impacts of climate change and the deterioration of the marine environment to maritime safety and security, labor conditions for seafarers and the increasingly important issue of migration by sea," he said."All activities and policies related to oceans and the marine environment need to acknowledge and incorporate the three pillars of sustainable development: environmental, social and economic," he said. "Only then can we achieve the development objectives set by the international community.""I urge governments and all sectors of society to embrace our individual and collective responsibility to protect the marine environment and manage its resources in a sustainable manner for present and future generations," he said.The world's oceans, which account for about 70 percent of the Earth's...

Aims to create a socially and environmentally responsible maritime sector Some of the biggest names in shipping today called on the industry to take far-reaching action to create a maritime sector which is socially and environmentally responsible and profitable.Members of the Sustainable Shipping Initiative, a global coalition drawn from across the sector, launched a Case for Action analysing the global trends which will shape the future of shipping, and announced: "Our goal is to transform the global shipping industry and the wider maritime sector, establishing a new, sustainable approach as the norm."They called on industry leaders to:-create a shared vision of how the industry should develop over the next 30 years;- prepare for greater scrutiny and demands from customers and society with regard to social and environmental performance;- build and convert ships to the highest standards of energy efficiency in anticipation of high and volatile fuel prices and demands for low-carbon performance;- drive the development of co-ordinated, progressive legislation that rewards sustainability;- develop innovative business models that encourage long-term investment and take into account social and environmental obligations.Soren Stig Nielsen, Head of Sustainability, Maersk Line, said: "By creating a shared vision for sustainable growth, we can plot a new ambitious...

The Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Shanghai  signed a formal agreement to exchange information, technical expertise and best practices to expand use of shore power at the Port of Shanghai. The signing ceremony concluded the sixth meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue co-chaired by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, China's Vice Premier Wang Yang and State Councilor Yang Jiechi. The annual conference brings the two nations together to address mutual challenges and opportunities on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti hailed China's growing interest in reducing vessel emissions as part of its larger efforts to improve air quality. Garcetti said the EcoPartnership strengthens ties established in 1998 under a Los Angeles-Shanghai Friendship Port Agreement. "Los Angeles continues to see the health and economic benefits of green growth, and we are eager to support our No. 1 trading partner as it expands its shore power program," Garcetti said. "We are honored to share our knowledge and experience with the Port of Shanghai and support this progressive environmental initiative at the world's largest port," said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. "We...

A group of industry experts and sustainability professionals met in London to discuss DNV GL's latest report which outlines vital links between the economy, societal well-being and good governance in addressing key sustainability challenges. "In terms of additional costs from climate change, our estimates range from five to 20 per cent of GDP," said Bjørn Haugland, executive vice president and chief sustainability officer at DNV GL. "These added costs will just increase and increase." DNV GL's research identifies 36 ‘barriers to sustainability' ranging from economic and market barriers, to policy, societal, and behavioural. The scale of the problem can seem oppressive, but Haugland insisted these problems can be overcome if businesses and politicians frame the response as an opportunity to innovate, open up new markets, and meet customer demands. "We believe there is a need to put the focus on the opportunities," he said. "For corporate leaders and politicians to speak a positive narrative is so important as it directs so much activity in society. "We believe it is possible to create a thriving economy, it is possible to stay within the limits of the planet and it is possible to create a society for nine billion people to live...

Thome Ship Management has been awarded a Green Environmental Achievement Award by the Port of Long Beach, California, for high standards in performance during 2013. Yatin Gangla, Chief Operating Officer Bulk Division said: "This award is presented to operators whose vessels call at the Port of Long Beach and who have demonstrated that 90% or more of the vessels have complied with the Voluntary Vessel Speed Reduction Programme. In recognition of this achievement, Thome has received a green flag and a 25% discount on the dockage dues payable by all our managed vessels to the Port of Long Beach during 2014. Announcing Thome's award, Donald B Snyder, Director of Trade Development at the City of Long Beach Harbor Department, said: "Thank you for your commitment to reducing air pollution in Southern California." The Port's Green Flag Program is a voluntary vessel speed reduction program which rewards vessel operators for slowing down to 12 knots or less within 40 nautical miles (nm) of Point Fermin, near the entrance to the Harbor. The Port says that because ships emit less when they travel more slowly, the program has been highly successful in reducing smog-forming emissions and diesel particulates from ships. Vessels that dock at the Port of Long...

International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu has welcomed the recently-published report of the Global Ocean Commission (GOC), From Decline to Recovery: A Rescue Package for the Global Ocean, and its call for enhanced action at all levels to mitigate the threats to the global oceans described in the report. In a letter​ to the co-chairs of the Global Ocean Commission (Mr. José María Figueres, Mr. Trevor Manuel and Mr. David Miliband), Mr. Sekimizu noted that, as the United Nations specialized agency dedicated to sustainable uses of the world's oceans through safe, secure, clean ships, IMO plays a key role in advancing the critically important agenda carried forward in the report and has adopted key treaties addressing several of the outlined threats. Mr. Sekimizu highlighted IMO's active role in addressing many of the issues raised in the GOC report, noting also that IMO is working actively through several existing coordination mechanisms - such as UN Oceans, the Global Partnership for Oceans, and the Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP) - to ensure that joint efforts are maximized and duplication reduced. "In my view, thoughtful development of ocean regulations, coupled with early entry into force,...

A new era of responsibility for shipping companies Singapore Stock Exchange ("SGX") has introduced a Sustainability Reporting Guide (the "Guide") for its listed shipping companies. This follows a public consultation, issued in August 2010 that received widespread attention and positive feedback in support of disclosure and accountability for operating and developing businesses in a sustainable manner. Sustainability reports may be part of the annual report of the issuer or standalone reports and will be issued on a voluntary basis.It has long been recognised that the way businesses operate can have long terms effects on the environment and society. More recently concerns about climate change, biodiversity, social and environmental risks have been heightened by crises and natural disasters. End customers demand that suppliers behave responsibly. SGX, as a responsible Exchange with global reach, has responded with a Guide for listed companies. This guide is relevant for all issuers who operate in industries that are susceptible to environmental risks.Within the Guide, the Policy Statement sets out the principles and the Questions and Answers guide listed companies in extending their reporting beyond financial governance to sustainability aspects. A more holistic reporting will be achieved, with companies reporting their financials as well as the...

Green Marine and the Association of Canadian Port Authorities (ACPA) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the goal of jointly expanding efforts to reduce the marine industry's environmental footprint and encourage the industry to continuously improve its environmental performance. The announcement was made in conjunction with the ACPA 56th Annual General Meeting and Assembly taking place in Belledune, New Brunswick. The MoU was signed earlier this summer during Green Marine's annual conference, GreenTech 2014, in Saint John New Brunswick. The agreement will serve as a framework for the advancement of the Green Marine Environmental Program and increased collaboration on related initiatives. ACPA and Green Marine will also be working together to expand the participation of both ACPA member ports and terminal operators in the Green Marine Environmental Program. "This agreement reflects the port authorities' continued commitment to environmental sustainability,'' said ACPA President, Wendy Zatylny. With this agreement, we will work together to develop additional tools and measures to strengthen the industry'environmental performance.'' "Green Marine looks forward to working closely with ACPA to advance the development of the environmental program and recruit additional companies to participate in Green Marine" said Green Marine Management Corporation President, Raymond Johnston. Both Green Marine and ACPA are seeking to establish a productive working relationship under this MoU. To that...

The Georgia Ports Authority has won recognition by the Environmental Protection Agency as a leader in reducing carbon emissions. The Southeast Diesel Collaborative (SEDC), a public-private partnership formed by the U.S. EPA Region 4 office, named the GPA as a Community Leadership Award winner. "The GPA has voluntarily undertaken many projects to decrease diesel fuel consumption, resulting in improved air quality," said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz. "Some of those projects include our innovative eRTGs or electric rubber tired gantry cranes, the repower of diesel RTGs with variable alternators, and the retrofit of 11 switch locomotives by GPA's partner, Rail Link." In December 2012, the Georgia Ports Authority unveiled its first four electrified rubber-tired gantry cranes. The GPA board recently approved spending $8 million for Phase II of the eRTG project, which will convert 10 additional diesel RTGs to electric power, and install conductor rails at 12 more container blocks. GPA's transition to an eRTG fleet should be complete by 2024. Foltz said greater attention paid to environmental stewardship pays off in financial savings and improved efficiency. "Cutting diesel consumption means not only cleaner air, but also lower energy costs," he said. "Better cross-terminal truck transit means less idling and...