300 senior executives from classification societies, stakeholders, NGOs, ship owners and managers met at the Capital Link’s 4th Annual Shipping & Offshore CSR Forum in London to discuss how to strengthen corporate social responsibility (CSR) in shipping. Maritime safety and security, energy efficiency, sustainable ship recycling and the financial advantages of CSR were some of the topics on the agenda in presentations and panel discussions.
Christian von Oldershausen, Regional Business Development Manager West Europe & Africa at DNV GL – Maritime, argued that the shipping industry should see corporate social responsibility as an opportunity rather than a burden.
“The industry should see CSR as an opportunity, not a burden. It can enable shipping companies to have a positive ecological impact and also improve efficiency and economic viability, while helping to retain and motivate employees”, said Christian von Oldershausen, Regional Business Development Manager West Europe & Africa at DNV GL – Maritime. The world’s largest classification society was one of the main sponsors of the event and places sustainability at the heart of its corporate strategy.
At the CSR Forum, former IMO Secretary General Efthimios Mitropoulos stressed that corporate social responsibility is now becoming a key issue for many of their customers in the maritime sector. “Customers will increasingly be looking to manage their exposure in this regard by selecting business partners, including shipping companies, which have clear and verifiable CSR policies”, Mitropoulos said. He received the Capital Link’s Maritime CSR Leadership Award for his achievements in maritime security and safety as well as his commitment to reducing pollution and greenhouse emissions and promoting corporate responsibility.
Organizations such as the “Sustainable Shipping Initiative” or the “Maritime Anti-Corruption Network” demonstrate that the maritime sector has already taken first steps to becoming more sustainable. Von Oldershausen argued that the shipping industry needs to be even more pro-active by exceeding existing environmental, safety and labour regulations.
DNV GL is already setting ambitious goals for increasing safety, sustainability and corporate responsibility: By 2050 DNV GL aims to help to reduce the maritime industry’s sector’s fatality rates by 90% and lower fleet-wide CO2 emissions by 60% – without increasing current freight cost level. In addition, DNV GL’s Sustainable Advisory Services helps customers integrate CSR and sustainability into their business plan. This service has attracted companies from the energy, shipping and fashion industries.
About DNV GL
Driven by its purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, DNV GL enables organisations to advance the safety and sustainability of their business. We provide classification and technical assurance services along with software and independent expert advisory services to the maritime, oil & gas and energy industries. We also provide certification services to customers across a wide range of industries. Operating in more than 100 countries, our 16,000 professionals are dedicated to helping our customers make the world safer, smarter and greener.