EMEA News
Shipping Industry Making Waves In Progress Towards Sustainability: SSI Annual Report
The Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI) Tuesday announced the release of the organization's latest annual report—the document suggests that while there are significant short-term challenges around International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and COP 21 meeting requirements, progress is happening.
"There is no room for complacency, and we must be under no illusion of the significant challenges that lie ahead. But we have shown that when organisations within the industry come together to make a difference and drive more sustainable behaviours great things can be achieved," said Alastair Fischbacher, chief executive officer of the SSI, commenting on the release of the report.
The main challenges referred to include new requirements agreed to at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the so-called COP 21 conference, which has resulted in a demand that global industry cap emissions as a way realizing less than two degrees warming.
Some of the achievements the organization claims over the past year include facilitating access to SSI's Save as you Sail (SAYS) financial concept, which allows charterers, owners and financiers to model returns on investment from using more efficient vessels.
The report also claims progress in terms of the challenges around responsible ship recycling, improving the transparent exchange of information on the future of shipping through the Futures Centre, as well as new research on attitudes to life at sea as a way of making shipping a more attractive place to work and develop a career.
The SSI report also said progress had been made in terms of developing a "Roadmap" – to be launched in the first quarter of 2016 – consisting of a 'live' tool that sets out the key milestones for charting a path to a sustainable industry by 2040, which is the goal of the SSI.
"Our second Progress Report shows the real developments that the SSI and its members are making, and the positive work that is being conducted among members," said Fischbacher.
"The Progress Report demonstrates the real value of being a member of SSI. It highlights the sense of purpose and pride that comes from...working on the front line, investing time, knowledge and expertise to pioneer new initiatives and progressive ways of thinking in order to create a more sustainable and profitable shipping industry," he said.
Last month Ship & Bunker reported that Fischbacher said the financial pressure to reduce bunker bills was "simply not there."
