Shipping leaders collaborate to tackle major issues

The SSI was established in 2010 by Forum for the Future, a non profit organisation, in conjunction with NGO World Wildlife Fund (WWF). AkzoNobel and U-Ming Marine join more than 18 global companies, including Maersk Line, Cargill, Lloyd’s Register, DNV, Wärtsilä, Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME), who are working to achieve a sustainable and profitable shipping industry by 2040.

The group represents ship owners, charterers, shipbuilders, engineers and service providers, banking, insurance and classification societies. The aim of the collaboration, which is the first of its kind in the industry, is to tackle issues including energy technologies, financing sustainable ship building, reviewing ship material and sustainability ratings and standards.

Key areas for action include becoming a more trusted and responsible partner in shipping communities, providing a safe, healthy, secure and rewarding work environment and enabling the financing of technological and operational innovations that will lead to a sustainable future.

The initiative’s vision is outlined in Vision for 2040 and four initial workstreams – the finance workstream, materials management workstream, energy tech workstream and credible benchmarking workstream.

At an industry event in Singapore in September 2013, the SSI will launch its practical outputs of these workstreams, report on progress of its 2040 vision and announce future plans for 2013 to 2014.