SINGAPORE: Losing sight of sustainability issues in this economic recession could mean bigger problems and costs in the future.
At the Sustainability in Challenging Times Seminar on Apr 20, DNV Sustainability Centre managing director Per Marius Berrefjord told representatives of the shipping industry that sustainability practices must not take a backseat even as many companies today are struggling with more immediate business challenges.
Given that social, economic and environmental imperatives are directing both governmental and corporate policies in the international sustainability agenda, Mr Berrefjord believed the factors contributing to the present market conditions are making long-term sustainability an even more relevant concern.
“The world is moving towards a common agreement that doing nothing about climate change and other sustainability issues is no longer an option. This conclusion is further galvanised by the global credit crisis which has left everyone with little faith in the present financial systems,” Mr Berrefjord said.
“People and industries are changing their perceptions of what are considered acceptable practices, and they will have much higher expectations of transparency, due diligence, performance criteria and stricter regulations. Moreover, they want the authorities to lead rather than keep away.”
An equally important impetus is the adoption of sustainability principles by China and India as a basis for societal progress. With 2.4 billion people from these countries joining the existing one billion who have thus far been driving the world economy, a fundamental shift is in motion, Mr Berrefjord observed.
But against the global trend towards sustainable practices, contributions from the shipping industry have been slowed by relative indecision, lack of concerted effort and short-sightedness.
“The shipping industry should understand that society at large is taking on major discussions as part of a mission to solve a big problem and that there is little space for special considerations in specific industries, particularly if these industries are unwilling to contribute,” Per Marius Berrefjord cautioned.
He said simple but radical changes in shipping could boost per tonne mile energy efficiency by 50% or more -- an attractive prospect under any economic condition. Such changes would include enlarging the ship size; optimising sailing speed; better interactions between ports and ships; leveraging technological advances in propellers, rudders and main engines; as well as improved technical management.
“The shipping industry will be expected to challenge existing conventions on the mode of co-operation between charterers, owners and other parties to act on the opportunities, especially in the current economic climate where many businesses are more concerned about short-term results,” Mr Berrefjord said.
The Sustainability in Challenging Times Seminar is a joint effort by DNV Petroleum Services and Intertanko. Besides Per Marius Berrefjord, Intertanko managing director Peter Swift and AET Shipmanagement (Singapore) general manager Jack Brabban also shared their respective organisations’ experiences in sustainability efforts.
The three speakers were joined by DNVPS managing director Tore Morten Wetterhus, NYK Shipmanagement chief operating officer Hemant Pathania and Royal Norwegian Embassy science and technology counsellor Ole Jakob Sørdalen in a panel discussion chaired by Peter Swift.
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For more information, contact David Wong, Communications & Marketing Manager, DNV Petroleum Services
Email: david.wong@dnvps.com Phone: +65 68876059/+65 92311338