Greener seas bid by Wallenius Wilhelmsen

Wallenius Wilhelmsen, the global shipping and logistics company, has signed a cutting-edge three year agreement with WWF, the global conservation organisation, to preserve and promote the conservation of marine life on the high seas.

The agreement considerably strengthens the work being conducted by WWF?s Global Marine Programme on high seas conservation on the ?open oceans? outside the exclusive economic zones of national states. It will also reinforce the positive impact of WWF-Norway?s Endangered Seas Programme.

Lena Blomqvist, Environmental and Fleet Performance, Wallenius Wilhelmsen, said: “Care of the marine environment has been a fundamental ethic of Wallenius Wilhelmsen throughout its existence. We already make considerable efforts in our daily operations to minimise our impact on the environment with regard to emissions into the air and sea, as well as trying to influence the industries we work with, especially in the oil sector, to help us become a greener company.

Nils P Dyvik, Chief Executive Officer, Wallenius Wilhelmsen, said: “Our global sponsorship of WWF is an important step in taking our clean environmental message to the market. It will help us motivate our business partners, customers and employees to support our initiatives in delivering the difference on the environment. We always try and go beyond current legislation and our goal is to work towards a cleaner marine landscape for tomorrow.”

Simon Cripps, director of WWF’s Global Marine Programme, said: “By joining forces, Wallenius Wilhelmsen and WWF will be making a significant contribution to securing marine conservation in the last frontier of the oceans, the high seas. WWF is pleased to be working with such a forward-thinking company that recognises the importance of conserving the open ocean, a global resource for all users.”

Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s support will help the WWF improve the governance of the high seas in protecting marine life and developing practical conservation solutions, such as the established High Seas Marine Protected Areas (HSMPAs).

WWF’s high seas conservation strategy also aims to address the wider environmental issues connected with the shipping industry such as and reducing the threats of illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing; developing better ways to manage global tuna fishing fleets; and minimise the catching of marine species like dolphins, marine turtles, and sharks.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen, jointly owned by Wallenius Lines of Sweden and Wilh. Wilhelmsen of Norway, has already made extensive moves to become more environmentally friendly. In February 2004, it signed a groundbreaking contract to purchase 200,000 tons of bunker fuel with a sulphur contact of just 1.0%, well below that required by current legislation, to help stem harmful exhaust emissions into the atmosphere. Already, 60% of the company?s annual bunker fuel supplies of 800,000 tonnes have been sourced at or below a sulphur content of just 1.5%.

Other measures already undertaken by Wallenius Wilhelmsen?s owners include: altering main engine fuel combustion to minimise emissions; implementing the use of tin-free bottom paints on hulls; employing innovative methods of treating ballast water; using double hulled vessels; changing cooling agents used in refrigeration plants; using biodegradable oil in the stern tubes; finding more environmentally friendly systems to put out fires; using bilge water treatments achieving content of 5 parts per million (ppm); and deploying biocide-free anti-foulants.

The WWF-Wallenius Wilhelmsen agreement comes a time when governments are being lobbied by scientists and the conservation community to take immediate action to protect the resources of the deep sea from bottom trawling. In recent years, scientists have discovered cold water coral reef systems that have taken thousands of years to develop, only to be destroyed in a few hours by trawling;

Seamounts, underwater sea mountains that contain high biodiversity and numerous fish stocks, have also come under threat in recent years as fishermen seek new places to catch dwindling numbers of fish.