In April 2012, we unveiled our initial four work streams which kick start the implementation of our Vision for 2040.

This is a significant step for the SSI as it works toward achieving its vision of a shipping industry that is both profitable and sustainable by 2040. The work streams will develop new knowledge, tools and processes for the industry over the next 18 months (to September 2013), utilising its members’ extensive expertise spanning ship owning, chartering and operations to shipbuilding and engineering, marine finance and insurance, banking, technical standards and global supply chain.

The SSI’s first work streams address the following areas, which offer the greatest potential to accelerate change:

• Closed Loop Materials Management:
  Who: CNCo, DSME, Maersk Line, Carnival and Lloyds Register
  What: Developing systems and practices to enable widespread adoption of closed-loop management of materials in the ship building processes. The goal is to achieve full transparency and accountability for the social and environmental impacts of all materials, from construction through to recycling of ships. Work will also focus on developing a process to manage these impacts, help companies realise the true value of ships at the end of their life and establish ways to further reduce the use of finite resources in future shipbuilding.
  Outcomes: Over the next 18 months, the group will develop a strong prototype for closed loop materials management of ships to be shared with the industry.
• Financing sustainable shipping:
  Who: ABN AMRO, Cargill, Wärtsilä and RSA, in partnership with other leaders in finance, insurance and shipping
  What: Developing new approaches for the financing of sustainable ships.
  Outcomes: This includes piloting at least one new financial model that will reward sustainable performance.
• Energy technology:
  Who: Bunge, Gearbulk, Rio Tinto, Lloyd’s Register, BP Shipping, Maersk Line and Cargill
  What: Leading efforts to make low energy technologies more affordable and available.
  Outcomes: Focused on the implementation gap – many lower-energy technologies available but are not being implemented at scale – the work stream will develop robust business cases, providing the information companies need to adopt large-scale eco-efficient technologies and techniques.
• Credible Benchmarking: How to use and improve Sustainability Rating Schemes in Shipping:
  Who: WWF, Carnival, Lloyds Register, Maersk Line, DNV, RSA and Unilever
  What: Helping the shipping industry navigate the growing number of beyond-compliance rating schemes, which will enable greater uptake and drive improved sustainability performance.
  Outcomes: Over the next 18 months, the group will develop a clear and comprehensive guide for how the industry uses these standards, including recommendations on which schemes to adopt to suit the needs of individual shipping companies.

These work streams will form Phase III of the SSI which will run from April 2012 for 18 months, until September 2013.

The SSI invites enquiries from organisations in the wider industry wishing to participate in the four work streams. You can contact us at ssi@forumforthefuture.org.

You can view presentations about each of the four work streams here.
To view photos of our work stream launch event in Singapore on 26th April 2012 on our Flickr stream