Ocean Sustainability News

On October 31, 2022, global maritime leaders of tomorrow graduated from the World Maritime University (WMU). The Class of 2022 has received the education required to contribute to maritime and ocean matters in their home countries and more broadly to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Overall, the graduating class includes 276 graduates from 70 countries, and sets a record of 94 women graduates.WMU President Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia…

Grand Wisdom, the second very large ore carrier (VLOC) to join the U-Ming Marine Transport fleet, has been delivered with a protective hull coating from Nippon Marine Paint’s A-LF Sea product range.Delivered in December from Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry’s shipyard in Qingdao, China, Grand Wisdom is the second in a pair of eco-friendly bulkers to join the owner’s 48-strong fleet. Sister ship Grand Pioneer, delivered in August, represented the Taipei-headquartered shipowner’s entry into the VLOC market.Motoi Takeuchi…

Japanese shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines has signed its first green loan, which it plans to use to partially finance the construction of the world's largest liquefied natural gas bunkering vessel (LNGBV).The 18,600 cubic meters (cbm) LNGBV for Total will be owned and operated by MOL. Last year, Total and MOLsigned a long-term charter contract for a pioneer LNG bunker vessel.The loan is provided by BNP Paribas (BNPP) and the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM), with both banks acting as Mandated Lead Arrangers and BNPP acting as Sole Green Structuring Advisor. MOL obtained a second party opinion in respect of the loan from a third-party institute.Green Loans are used to raise funds for businesses aimed at protecting and improving the environment.

The European Union (EU) is set to launch a new interactive map, dubbed The Ocean Tracker, to follow the commitments, made by governments, businesses and NGOs, worth more than €10 billion ($11.13bn) so far.EU Commissioner Karmenu Vella, responsible for Environment, Maritime affairs and Fisheries said: "With the delivery of The Ocean Tracker, the EU demonstrates its leadership in ocean sustainability”.The Ocean tracker, itself a commitment made in 2017, when the EU hosted the Our Ocean in Malta, will make sure that the progress of all pledges is clear to see.EU also announced 22 new commitments at the 2019 edition of Our Ocean conference…

30 companies and institutional investors have signed up to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Sustainable Ocean Principles committing to take action to secure a healthy and productive ocean.UNGC is a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the United Nations Global Compact works with companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption.The signatories to the principles include the container ship and supply vessel operator A.P. Møller – Mærsk, food and beverage company PepsiCo, and Norges Bank Investment Management, which manages one of the world’s largest funds with over US$ 1 trillion in assets.

Chairman of Association of African Maritime administrations (AAMA), Dr Dakuku Peterside has called on developed nations and corporate bodies to support Africa and other developing nations to build capacity and regulatory enforcement needed to maximize benefits of ocean economy.Dakuku who made the call in Oslo, Norway at the commencement of the world renowned Nor Shipping Conference & Exhibition, holding June 4th - 7th, 2019, noted that Ocean industries will be contributing to Sustainable development goals  only when both developing and developed nations benefit in a sustainable manner.The High level ocean leadership meeting which was organized by United Nations Global Compact and the Norwegian government at the residence of the Prime Minister of Norway…

Danish shipping  conglomerate A.P. Møller – Maersk A/S and German logistics company DB Schenker have partnered to establish a CO2 target to reduce CO2 emissions by 20% per container transported from 2014-2020 for DB Schenker’s business with Maersk.As a result of Maersk’s fuel efficiency efforts, the companies met this target in 2018, 2 years ahead of schedule, said a press release from the largest container ship and supply vessel operator.“We’re on the same page with our carriers and the transportation providers who are striving for higher levels of environmental sustainability and less pollution,” says Andrea Schön, DB Schenker’s Corporate Climate Protection Manager.“We work together to hold the flag…

As a United Nations agency, International Maritime Organization (IMO)  is firmly committed to the Sustainable Development Goals, one of which is about delivering quality education.A press note from the UN agency said that an important element of its efforts in this regard are its two maritime educational institutions – the World Maritime University (WMU) and the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI). Both are focussed on delivering high-level education in maritime-related subjects to students from developing countries.Sunday 4 November saw the graduation ceremony for WMU’s class of 2018. One of the largest to date, it comprised 267 graduates from 71 countries – a third of whom are women…

The containership segment’s commitment to ocean sustainability has been underscored with another order for Thordon Bearings’ COMPAC water lubricated propeller shaft bearing concept. The decision by Brazil-based cabotage carrier Log-In Logística to select the Thordon solution for a 2700TEU newbuild Log-In Polaris, is indicative of a trend in the sector for mitigating against the risk of oil pollution by adopting the simpler, environmentally-safer water-lubricated propel shaft concept. Extensive in scope, Thordon will supply a complete COMPAC water lubricated propeller shaft system that entails: fwd and aft COMPAC bearings, its proprietary water quality package (WQP)…

All ships can experience a build-up of aquatic organisms on their underwater hull and structures, which is known as biofouling. This can impact on the ship speed and energy use, and also potentially see aquatic organisms transferred to new areas, where they can become invasive species. To help address this threat, the  International Maritime Organization (IMO) team preparing the new GloFouling project has taken part in the Sustainable Ocean Summit in Halifax, Canada (29 November – 1 December) where industry-led solutions to ocean sustainability challenges were being discussed. The event brought together representatives from the ocean business community…

The role of the marine industry in supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals was addressed at the 2016 World Ocean Council Sustainable Ocean Summit in Rotterdam, Netherlands (30 November-2 December). International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s Theofanis Karayannis gave an insight into how the Organization supports ocean sustainability, including work to mitigate climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions form ships and IMO’s work to address biofouling and the transport of potentially invasive aquatic species. In line with the Summit’s theme “Ocean 2030: Sustainable Development Goals and the Ocean Business Community”…

“Sustainable development” has gone from buzz word to business imperative in the two decades since the initial Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Companies are increasingly evaluated on how well they address sustainability as a critical measure of their commitment to the triple bottom line – people, planet and profit. Stakeholders expect companies to develop sustainability and corporate responsibility programs and reporting as part of efforts to take up civil society concerns and maintain the social license to operate.

“Sustainable development” has gone from buzz word to business imperative in the two decades since the initial Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Companies are increasingly evaluated on how well they address sustainability as a critical measure of their commitment to the triple bottom line – people, planet and profit. Stakeholders expect companies to develop sustainability and corporate responsibility programs and reporting as part of efforts to take up civil society concerns and maintain the social license to operate.

Recently in its New York City office Maritime Reporter sat with Paul Holthus, CEO of the World Ocean Council, for a discussion of the trend toward corporate ocean responsibility and his organization’s contribution to that end. Can you tell us a bit about your meeting at the United Nations? The U.N. has an annual briefing for governments on ocean issues that has been going for 16 years,  but industry hasn’t usually  been well represented. As the World Ocean Council has become recognized…

Dutch-based Damen Shipyards Group has become the latest member of the World Ocean Council (WOC). The global shipbuilder headquartered in the Netherlands is the first European shipbuilder to join the WOC, the international business leadership alliance on ocean sustainability, science and stewardship. Damen works to reduce environmental impacts of shipping, by focusing on optimizing ship design and working on product innovations. This has resulted in, for example, the E3 label, applying to new Damen designs that are environmentally friendly, efficient in operation and economically viable. In addition, Damen recently formed partnerships with the Bellona Foundation, the Oslo-based institute for sustainable environmental solutions, and with the BlueTec Tidal Energy project.

Damen Shipyards Group  has become the latest member of the World Ocean Council (WOC). Damen is the first European shipbuilder to join the WOC, the international business leadership alliance on ocean sustainability, science and stewardship. By focusing on optimizing ship design and working on product innovations, Damen works to  reduce environmental impacts of shipping. This has resulted in, for example, an in-house E3 label, applying only to new Damen designs that are Environmentally friendly, Efficient in operation and Economically viable.

The World Ocean Council (WOC) has announced its 3rd Sustainable Ocean Summit (SOS) to be held on 9-11 November, 2015 in Singapore. The SOS is the only international, multi-sector, business event dedicated to “Corporate Ocean Responsibility”. This first SOS to be held in Asia, the 2015 event is being developed in collaboration with stakeholders in Singapore, Hong Kong and responsible business leadership companies from around the world. SOS 2015 is uniquely designed to bring together leadership companies from the diverse Ocean Business Community: shipping, oil and gas, seabed mining, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, offshore renewable energy…

The 126-foot research vessel M/V OCEARCH is currently making its way from Port Everglades, Florida to Brisbane, Australia on board DYT Yacht Transport’s semisubmersible ship 686’ flagship Yacht Express. The research vessel is the namesake of the nonprofit organization OCEARCH, which is globally recognized for its work in the field of ocean sustainability. DYT has partnered with the organization to support its study of sharks and other large predators that are essential to the future of the marine ecosystem.

The Global Ocean Commission name chairs of a special plenary Sustainable Ocean Summit session to be held in Washington DC, in April 2013. Global Ocean Commission names Costa Rican President José María Figueres and South African cabinet minister Trevor Manuel, to chair Special SOS Session for business input to the Commission. This new ‘Global Ocean Commission - Ocean Industry Forum’ session at SOS 2013 on 24 April will provide a key opportunity for the ocean business community to engage directly with the Commissioners and provide industry input. “As the Commission embarks on its journey, it is essential that we gain input and expertise from all sectors involved with the global ocean,” said President Figueres.

The Sustainable Ocean Summit 2013 (SOS 2013), organized by the World Ocean Council (WOC), is an international ocean business community gathering dedicated to industry leadership and collaboration in developing solutions to ocean sustainability challenges. Washington D.C. The theme of SOS 2013 is “Oceans 2050–The Ocean Business Community and Sustainable Seas.” The SOS is designed for the diverse range of ocean industries: shipping, oil and gas, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, offshore renewable energy…

The SOS 2013 program will take on the issues that are challenging access to ocean areas and resources by responsible industry operators. Click here to see the program. This global gathering of the diverse ocean business community is not a conference to discuss the issues, enjoy some networking and hope someone else will do something. The SOS is a working meeting to advance industry leadership and collaboration on shared ocean sustainability risks and opportunities through WOC programs. ■ A keynote address by Admiral White, Oceanographer of the U.S.

Keppel Offshore and Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), a global company in offshore rig design, construction and repair, ship repair and conversion, and specialized shipbuilding, has become a member of the World Ocean Council (WOC). Keppel O&M joins a growing number of companies from a wide range of industries that are distinguishing themselves as members of the international business leadership alliance on ocean sustainability, science and stewardship. With its headquarters in Singapore…

Leading Asian shipping companies China Navigation & Swire Pacific Offshore expand the global industry alliance on ocean sustainability. The China Navigation Co. Pte. Ltd (CNCo) and Swire Pacific Offshore Operations (Pte) Ltd (SPO), major international shipping companies based in the Asia-Pacific region, join leading companies from a range of industries as members of the World Ocean Council (WOC) - the international business leadership alliance on Corporate Ocean Responsibility. "Much of world trade depends on maritime transport to and from Asia. The shipping industry has a significant role in ensuring its operations are safe and sustainable whilst not adversely affecting ocean health.