While the voting procedure for the 2019 GREEN4SEA Awards is open, Andrew Stephens, Executive Director, SSI & Nicole Rencoret, Head of Communications and Development, SSI, talk about the Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative (SRTI), a new online platform for which SSI has been nominated in the ‘Initiative’ category among others. When it comes to ship recycling, transparency is the top priority, they argue; in this regard, it is important shipowners to share information on their ship recycling policies and practices, allowing their data to tell their story. Responsible ship recycling is an important part of being a responsible industry, they conclude.
SAFETY4SEA: Your organization has been shortlisted for the 2019 GREEN4SEA Awards in the ‘Initiative’ category alongside a number of other distinguished nominees. What would you like to share with industry’s stakeholders with respect to this development?
Sustainable Shipping Initiative: We’re both honoured and delighted that we’ve been nominated for the 2019 GREEN4SEA Award, only a couple of months after the Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative (SRTI) online platform went live. The SRTI is the result of a dedicated and diverse group of industry stakeholders coming together and realising our collective potential – and power – to improve ship recycling policy, practice and performance.
S4S: How has your initiative influenced industry’s landscape? What are the key areas of attention?
SSI: The SRTI has been a game changer in terms of its influence on changing the industry narrative on what has been a controversial, sensitive and at times politically-charged issue: ship recycling. Responsible ship recycling is an important part of being a responsible industry. While many agree ship recycling is a complex issue, there is something that can be done. The onus remains on shipowners to take responsibility for their ships, and for the wider maritime industry be held to account. We need to join together and take collective action to make responsible ship recycling the norm.
S4S: Do you have any new projects on the pipeline and/or plans that you would like to share with the rest of the industry?
SSI: Our number one focus right now is on keeping the SRTI momentum going, by engaging with a range of stakeholders across and beyond the shipping value chain so they learn about and sign up to the SRTI. We’re encouraging shipowners to share information on their ship recycling policies and practices, allowing their data to tell their story. We’re also spreading the word among cargo owners and financial stakeholders, who are increasingly recognising their important role in using the knowledge generated by data disclosed through the SRTI platform to make informed decisions. Cargo owners can be accountable for their supply chains, investors can ensure their investments are aligned. Knowledge is power, and with power comes responsibility!
S4S: If you could change one thing about the shipping industry, what would it be and why?
SSI: At the SSI we see the industry changing in terms of its transparency. We have seen how transparency has moved the goal posts and significantly accelerated progress in other industries; demanding transparency as a minimum is key to hold the industry to account, building trust and shining a light on what sustainable shipping actually looks like.
S4S: What is your key message to the industry for a more sustainable future of shipping?
SSI: The SRTI already has the support of a number of leaders from across the shipping value chain including The China Navigation Company, GES International, Hapag Lloyd, Lloyd’s Register, A.P. Moeller-Maersk, NORDEN, Nykredit, Standard Chartered Bank, Stolt Tankers and Wallenius Wilhelmsen. We’re also seeing an increasing number of investors and cargo owners signing up to the Initiative.
Our key message to the industry is: Be transparent! Play your part in leading the transformation to more responsible ship recycling by signing up to the Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative
You may cast your vote for SSI’s Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative at 2019 GREEN4SEA Awards dedicated webpage till 22nd of February 2019!
The views presented hereabove are only those of the author and not necessarily those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
