The Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI) brings together some of the biggest names in the maritime sector to plan how it can contribute to - and thrive in - a sustainable future.
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SSI Members
The Sustainable Shipping Initiative brings together leading companies from across the industry and around the world with NGO's Forum for the Future and WWF:
- Ship owners, charterers and operators: BP Shipping, Bunge, Cargill, Carnival Corporation, China Navigation Company, Gearbulk, Maersk Line, Rio Tinto Marine and Tsakos Energy Navigation.
- Shipbuilders, engineers and service providers: Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering; Wärtsilä.
- Banks and insurers: ABN Amro, RSA.
- Classification society (setting technical standards): Lloyd's Register
- Representing shipping customers: Unilever
View the location of the Sustainable Shipping Initiative members on our map.
If you want to find out more or get involved in the Initiative, please contact Sam Kimmins, +44(0)20 7324 3675, ssi@forumforthefuture.org.
To stay up to date with the latest SSI news follow us on Twitter at @sustshipping or send an email to ssi@forumforthefuture.org to be added to our mailing list.
ABN Amro, Netherlands
"ABNAMRO understands that finance will play an important role in facilitating the industry's sustainability drive, as shipping companies will invest heavily in technological innovation. As a leading ship finance bank we feel an obligation to contribute to shaping the future of shipping. The timing of the initiative is very good as industry players start committing real money to making their business more sustainable."
- Harris Antoniou, CEO Energy Commodities and Transportation
BP Shipping, UK
John Ridgway, BP Shipping CEO, said his business is interested in the work of the Sustainable Shipping Initiative. He said: “It is important for ship owners and operators to take sustainability seriously as an industry-wide issue. While we cannot be certain about market rates and oil prices, we can be certain of the need to do what we practically can to reduce emissions.
“The Sustainable Shipping Initiative could prove a significant catalyst for change in the industry, both in real terms and in mindset.”
Bunge, Switzerland
“Bunge is committed to improving the sustainability of the global food and agricultural production chain. To do so requires attention to our own operations, but also the promotion of better agricultural practices and more sustainable logistics. Shipping is a natural focus, and we believe the multi-stakeholder approach of the Sustainable Shipping Initiative is an excellent way to design and promote positive ideas and solutions.”
- Giovanni Ravano, Managing Director Ocean Freight
On any given day, Bunge is managing between 150-200 ships carrying large volumes of grains, oilseeds and other commodities. The Bunge Ocean Freight team coordinates this activity and contributes to the development of our commodities flows by providing innovative pricing, efficient logistics, risk management and value chain performance metrics.
Bunge Limited (www.bunge.com, NYSE: BG) is a leading global agribusiness and food company with approximately 32,000 employees in more than 30 countries. Bunge buys, sells, stores and transports oilseeds and grains to serve customers worldwide; processes oilseeds to make protein meal for animal feed and edible oil products for commercial customers and consumers; produces sugar and ethanol from sugarcane; mills wheat and corn to make ingredients used by food companies; and sells fertilizer in North and South America. Founded in 1818, the company is headquartered in White Plains, New York.
Cargill, Switzerland
“The shipping industry is a global community that currently supports 90 percent of the world’s international physical trade. In a world of finite resources, we recognise that the vitality and conservation of our natural resources is extremely important. We look forward to working with our industry partners to help tackle key challenges which our industry will face in the journey towards creating a sustainable shipping industry.”
- G. J. van den Akker, President, Cargill Ocean Transportation
“Cargill recognizes the potential benefits that the Sustainable Shipping Initiative can bring to the global shipping industry and we are proud to be an active participant. We live in a world of finite resources. But demand for food, industrial and energy commodities will continue to soar in the years ahead and the world must find ways to effectively and sustainably feed, house and power a population expected to reach 9 billion people by 2050. To do this successfully, we need to identify smart ways to conserve natural resources, protect the environment, support the communities in which we operate and promote sustainable business growth. The Sustainable Shipping Initiative, bringing together a variety of stakeholders across the shipping supply chain, can play an important role in identifying and promoting opportunities and driving best practice.”
- Roger Janson, Head of Ocean Transportation, Cargill
Cargill’s ocean transportation business is a major global charterer of ships and transports about 185 million metric tonnes of dry bulk commodities each year, spanning the agricultural, industrial and energy sectors for Cargill product lines and third party customers. The business is headquartered in Geneva with offices in London, Amsterdam, New Jersey, Singapore, Shanghai and Tokyo. Its global team has a unique blend of experience across shipping, commodities and risk management and offers its customers a number of ocean freight solutions across all dry market segments and tankers. The business has a strong commitment to corporate responsibility and demonstrates this by focusing on raising health, safety and quality standards across the industry as well as working with partners in the area of environmental stewardship.
Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services. Founded in 1865, the privately held company employs 131,000 people in 66 countries. Cargill helps customers succeed through collaboration and innovation, and is committed to applying its global knowledge and experience to help meet economic, environmental and social challenges wherever it does business.
Carnival Corporation & plc, UK
“Today, our reputation and business viability are contingent on being transparent and sustainable. This means providing satisfying vacations while keeping our guests safe, developing our workforce, and strengthening our stakeholder relationships.”
- Micky Arison, Chairman and CEO
“Carnival Corporation & plc and its Operating Lines are committed to protecting the health, safety and security of our passengers, guests, employees and all others working on behalf of the Company and to protecting the environment, including the marine environment in which our vessels sail and the communities in which we operate, minimizing our environmental footprint and using resources efficiently. Collaboration with the members of the Sustainable Shipping Initiative will help us to develop common sense, practical solutions and cooperatively make progress on these commitments.”
– J.M. Hunn, SVP Maritime Policy & Compliance
‘The cruise industry has seen extraordinary growth over recent years, establishing itself as a mainstream holiday choice initially in North America and now increasingly in Europe - particularly in the UK. Although the global economy remains challenging, the signs are that cruising has proved more resilient than other tourism and leisure sectors and that its growth will continue.
But, with continuing growth comes increased responsibility for the industry to ensure that its impacts are generally beneficial rather than negative. We have a multi-faceted action-plan to meet and surpass the expectations of our various stakeholders in that regard. As an industry, we recognise the need to balance out the actions needed to sustain an ever-increasing economic benefit for the communities affected by our operations with that of fulfilling wider social and environmental needs. In the Carnival organisation we take our responsibility as market leader seriously and recognise the need to set the agenda for building a sustainable industry.
This is why Carnival has joined with others to achieve a set of powerful goals for the world's shipping industry. We have come together to invest and commit to a sustainable future.
Carnival is committed at all levels to delivering a sustainable product within a sustainable industry which is sufficiently profitable. From our perspective this should support an expanding, well-rewarded and supported workforce and network of suppliers and to enhance significantly the economies and services of the communities its ships visit. From an industry perspective it will ensure that future growth across the shipping industry is maintained economically, socially and environmentally. It is a tough challenge but one to which we are fully committed.’
- David Dingle, CEO, Carnival UK
Carnival Corporation & plc is a global cruise company and one of the largest vacation companies in the world. Our portfolio of leading cruise brands includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn in North America; P&O Cruises and Cunard Line in the United Kingdom; AIDA in Germany; Costa Cruises in Southern Europe; Iberocruceros in Spain; and P&O Cruises in Australia.
These brands, which comprise the most recognized cruise brands in North America, the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy, offer a wide range of holiday and vacation products to a customer base that is broadly varied in terms of cultures, languages and leisure-time preferences. We also own a tour company that complements our cruise operations: Holland America Princess Alaska Tours in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Combined, our vacation companies attract 8.5 million guests annually.
The China Navigation Company Pte Ltd, Singapore
"Over the past 135 years China Navigation has recognised that maintaining its sustainable development and the goodwill of the communities in which it operates is fundamental if it is to continue to grow its business successfully for the future. Identifying opportunities and overcoming the present challenges of climate change and resource constraints will be critical to this process. We are keen to work through Forum for the Future and the SSI to determine a range of solutions that will assist our industry to be ever more environmentally and socially responsible whilst simultaneously further driving increases in its economic efficiency."
– Mr. Richard Kendall, Managing Director of The China Navigation Co group of companies, The China Navigation Company Pte Ltd.
“China Navigation is very pleased to have participated in the development of the SSI Vision 2040. We are committed to the development of solutions that will assist our industry to be more environmentally and socially responsible, whilst simultaneously driving improvements in its economic efficiency.”
- Managing Director, Tim Blackburn, China Navigation Company
China Navigation (CNCo) is the deep-sea ship owning and operating arm of the Swire Group, and is wholly-owned by the group’s parent company, John Swire & Sons Limited. Headquartered in Singapore, the company has also established Owner’s Representative offices in Hong Kong, Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, India and the USA. CNCo’s managed liner services serve over 130 ports worldwide, employing a mix of specialist owned and chartered vessels carrying container, bulk, break-bulk and project cargoes. CNCo has additional diversified dry bulk activities involving bulk carrier pool interests and tailor-made bulk logistics solutions. The company’s main area of operations is in the Asia Pacific region.
DNV, UK
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, South Korea
“Building sustainable ships will be fundamental to a sustainable industry and, as a leading shipbuilder, DSME is keen to contribute to the Sustainable Shipping Initiative. Our econology programme is developing high-performance ships with greatly reduced CO2 emissions.”
– Oh-Yig Kwon, Director of DSME’s Basic Design Group
DSME is a leading global shipbuilder and offshore contractor and builds a variety of vessels, offshore structures and naval ships. DSME is recognised around the world for its unsurpassed quality & technology.
DSME is a world leader in VLCC, LGN carriers, large container ships and offshore projects. Over our 30 years of successful business, we have retained a sophisticated work force, including 1,900 engineers and 6,300 experts. We are committed to environmental sustainability and the concept of “Econology” and are applying these principles to all aspects of our business.
“The leaders involved in this Initiative understand that success and sustainability must go hand in hand. These practical actions which they will help deliver will not only make their businesses more robust, but will ensure a more secure future for all of us.”
- Jonathon Porritt, Founder Director of Forum for the Future
“Shipping plays a vital role in global trade and affects the lives of billions of people around the world. Smart shipping companies can see the way the wind is blowing in terms of today's pressing sustainability issues, and leadership of this kind is crucial to the future success of the whole industry.”
Jonathon Porritt, Founder Director of Forum for the Future, the global non-profit organisation co-ordinating the Initiative, said: “Shipping has reached a crossroads. After years of focusing on a commodity-focused ‘boom and bust’ business model, leaders in the industry have aligned to ask more of themselves – emphasising the urgent need to take the lead in reshaping the entire industry ahead of regulation.”
Forum for the Future is a non-profit organisation working globally with business and government to create a sustainable future. It aims to transform the critical systems that we all depend on, such as food, energy and finance, to make them fit for the challenges of the 21st century. Forum for the Future has 15 years’ experience inspiring new thinking, building creative partnerships and developing practical innovations to change our world.
Gearbulk, Bermuda
"Shipping has a vital role to play in ensuring we achieve environmental, social and economic sustainability. The SSI initiative is a very good platform for ensuring that we, as an industry, are able to fulfil our responsibilities both now and in the future."
- Kristian Jebsen, Chairman and CEO of Gearbulk
"Our involvement in the SSI supports our sustainability vision which is 'To take responsibility for the future through the choices we make today'. Our work with the Forum for the Future is a way of ensuring that shipping is able to operate in a manner which takes all stakeholders into consideration, as well as to evaluate and reduce the impact human activity has on the planet."
– Kristian Jebsen, Chairman and CEO of Gearbulk
Gearbulk is an international shipping company which provides an indispensible link in the worldwide industrial product chain. Gearbulk is a leading carrier of unitized forest products and non-ferrous metals and operates the world's largest fleet of open-hatch gantry and semi-open jib craned vessels, purpose-built to carry forest products, non-ferrous metals, steel and other unitised breakbulk cargoes.
"Sustainable Shipping" Our Green World Television Series - featuring Gearbulk Holding Ltd.
Lloyd's Register, UK
Tom Boardley, Marine Director at Lloyd’s Register, emphasised the importance of commercial interests working with technical expertise. “One of the real strengths of this initiative is the marriage of ship operating and ship engineering capability – we all need to work together to help make shipping more sustainable,” he said. "Shipping is the least energy-intensive form of trade transport but, to create a truly sustainable model, we still have to find ways to lessen our impact on the planet. The members of the SSI are proven industry leaders with a clear view of how to manage the challenges ahead. Our organisation has played a leading role in commercial shipping for 250 years, most recently as non-profit distributing charity with a public-benefit mandate. Helping to assure the sustainability of maritime trade, with its wide benefits to society, is core to our mission."
– Tom Boardley, Marine Director, Lloyd's Register
"The SSI is an important initiative. At a time when many are struggling to stay in business investing in a cleaner future is perhaps not everybody’s favourite subject. But what makes a business sustainable is changing. At Lloyd’s Register we are putting ever more resources into helping owners, builders and all marine stakeholders better understand the implications of new regulation and technology in our more complex world."
– Tom Boardley, Marine Director, Lloyd's Register
The Lloyd’s Register Group provides independent assurance to companies operating high-risk, capital-intensive assets in the energy and transportation sectors. We enhance the safety of life, property and the environment by helping our clients to ensure the quality construction and operation of critical infrastructure. The Group comprises charities and non-charitable entities, with the latter supporting the charities in their main goal.
Maersk Line, Denmark
"By creating a shared vision for sustainable growth, we can plot a new ambitious course. A course where shipping is viewed as a key enabler of responsible and sustainable economic development."
- Soren Stig Nielsen, Head of Sustainability, Maersk Line.
"Climate change is a huge challenge for all, and we believe that shipping is not only part of the problem, we can also be part of the solution. We hope that the SSI will deliver an action plan that can strengthen the role of the shipping industry in shaping a low-carbon future."
– Jacob Sterling, Head of Climate and Environment in Maersk Line
"We are in business for the long-term and therefore take an active role in defining the future we want to be part of. Delivering on a joint vision for our industry will help drive a needed change in operating models - thereby allowing economies to grow, trade to develop and social wealth to spread."
- Morten H. Engelstoft, COO Maersk Line
Maersk Line is one of the leading liner shipping companies in the world, serving customers all over the globe. The Maersk Line fleet comprises more than 500 vessels and a number of containers corresponding to more than 1,900,000 TEU, we ensure reliable and comprehensive worldwide coverage.
We work to reduce Maersk Line’s impact significantly, improving and innovating our way towards lower CO2 emissions, cleaner water and air, and more responsible lifecycle management of our vessels. We will use our position, leadership ambition and the support of our customers and suppliers to make container shipping much more energy efficient, now and in the future.
For stock footage and images visit the Maersk Line press room at http://maersk.synapticdigital.com/
Rio Tinto Marine, Australia
"Given the prominent role of sustainability in our operations, Rio Tinto Marine is proud to join the Sustainable Shipping Initiative and looks forward to working with Forum for the Future and other member organisations to shape a more sustainable future for the global shipping industry."
– Michael Harvey, Chief Operating Officer of Rio Tinto Marine.
"Participation in the Sustainable Shipping Initiative is an important part of Rio Tinto Marine’s commitment to a world in which shipping is a trusted partner that transparently fulfills its responsibilities in all areas of sustainability. The continuing growth in demand for shipping services globally presents challenges, which have been identified by the SSI. These challenges need to be addressed if the industry is to perform to the increasingly stringent standards that have been, and are expected to be adopted by stakeholders. Rio Tinto Marine is excited to be working with the other forward-thinking members in developing the ideas and initiatives that support the SSI Vision."
– Michael Harvey, Chief Operating Officer of Rio Tinto Marine.
Rio Tinto Marine, headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, leverages its global scope, scale and network benefits for Rio Tinto by consolidating freight volumes through innovative freight solutions in order to maximise/optimise efficiencies in the value chain. By understanding global shipping trends and cargo dynamics, Rio Tinto Marine can identify and exploit value creating opportunities. Rio Tinto Marine employs approximately 80 shipping professionals and has regional offices in Singapore, London and Montreal and representative offices in Brisbane, Perth, Denver, Palabora (South Africa) and Tokyo.
Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa.
RSA, UK
"The aim for RSA and Codan Marine, is to keep our customers' business moving at all times. This fits well with the Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI) agenda, to ensure that the shipping industry successfully navigates through the challenges of global trade and environmental change."
"As one of the world's leading marine insurers, we are delighted to be part of the coalition. A framework of this kind will prove invaluable in safeguarding the future of the industry and helping to mitigate the environmental impact of shipping. As part of the programme, we are working with WWF to fund a new risk mapping resource, looking at commercial and environmental risks in the Arctic and North-West Passage. A wide range of data collection is in progress and we look forward to sharing the results with the SSI collective."
– Richard Turner, Marine Director at RSA
RSA is one of the top global Marine insurers in the world. It is a UK Market leader in each of its three key Marine disciplines of Cargo, Hull and Freight Liability. It employs over 150 specialist Marine underwriters, claims adjusters and risk managers in the UK and has Marine professionals situated across the world and an international network of claims surveyors and settling agents.
Tsakos Energy Navigation, Greece
Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd (TEN) is one of the largest transporters of energy in the world and controls a versatile fleet of modern crude and product tankers with strong ice-class capabilities. With a fleet of 49 vessels (45 operational and 4 under construction) TEN provides worldwide marine transportation services to state and international oil majors and refineries under long, medium and short-term charters.
Unilever, UK
"Unilever has a bold ambition to double its business and halve its environmental impact and has underpinned this ambition with the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan; nothing less than the basis of a new business model. Quite simply, the only way we will achieve our ambition is by working in partnerships with all our stakeholders, from suppliers to NGO's. With shipping being an increasingly important part of supply chain, the Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI) represents a unique opportunity to reduce environmental impact not only for Unilever, but right across the industry."
- Pier-Luigi Sigismondi, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Unilever
Wärtsilä, Finland
“Wärtsilä powers every third ship and services every second ship sailing the world’s seas. Providing sustainable solutions is the cornerstone of Wärtsilä’s commitment to the shipping industry. This initiative is an excellent opportunity for Wärtsilä to contribute to ensure that shipping remains the most sustainable way of transporting goods over long distances in the future.”
Wärtsilä is a global leader in complete lifecycle power solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising technological innovation and total efficiency, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers. In 2010, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 4.6 billion with more than 17,500 employees. The company has operations in 160 locations in 70 countries around the world. The company has operations in 160 locations in 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Finland.
WWF International, Switzerland
View the location of the Sustainable Shipping Initiative members on our map.
View SSI in a larger map
Members in Phase 1 only:
IMC, Singapore
“As a responsible leader in the shipping industry in Asia we have a critical role to play in ensuring our environmental foot print is kept to a minimum. We hope that through the SSI forum we can be part of the solution for a sustainable future by learning, promoting and implementing a green logistics and shipping industry that reduces its impact to the environment.”
-Mr James Samuel, Director – Health, Safety, Security and Environment
The IMC Group (IMC) is a privately-owned enterprise based in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, IMC has interests in the strategic business areas of Industries (IMC Industrial), Lifestyle/Real Estate (IMC Octave), Investments (IMC Investments) and Active Citizenship (East West Group).
With a maritime heritage dating back to early 1900s, IMC has transformed from a traditional shipping company to one that integrates shipping with logistics services and solutions. Its maritime businesses cover the dry and wet bulk supply chains, offshore and marine engineering and consumer logistics.
IMC’s corporate mission “to serve human well-being and create wealth at the same time” is also manifested in its programs to promote community development and care for the environment.”
Morgan Stanley, UK
"As a firm, Morgan Stanley is committed to creating innovative, long-term sustainable business models that strengthen communities, advance economic opportunity and protect the environment. We're pleased to be joining the Sustainable Shipping Initiative and look forward to collaborating with our partners to ensure that the shipping industry can play its part in delivering a long term sustainable future."
- Goran Trapp, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley Commodities.
Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, investment management and wealth management services. The Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals from more than 1,200 offices in 42 countries. For further information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com.
Keep in touch
If you want to find out more or get involved in the Initiative, please contact Sam Kimmins, +44(0)20 7324 3675, ssi@forumforthefuture.org.
To stay up to date with the latest SSI news follow us on Twitter at @sustshipping or send an email to ssi@forumforthefuture.org to be added to our mailing list.
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