Welcome to the Clean Shipping Project
Why Clean Shipping?
Shipping is an energy efficient way of transporting goods, but it is associated with a number of negative environmental effects. The environmental legislation process has been slow when it comes to shipping. However, the industry has every reason to increase their environmental performance as there are many technical solutions to reduce the negative environmental impact. The Clean Shipping Project was started in order to increase focus on the environmental issues of shipping. And with over 20 of Sweden’s largest cargo owners as a dynamic part of the project it has become a force to be reckoned with. One of the results of the project so far is the Clean Shipping Index, an index taking a holistic perspective on the environmental issues of shipping.
What are the benefits of the Clean Shipping Index?
First of all the index takes into account the major part of environmental effects connected to shipping, such as emissions to air and water, use of chemicals, antifouling etc. The index rank vessels or shipping companies according to the most relevant issue, decided by the viewer. If you’re a cargo owner seeking shipping companies with the best performance when it comes to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, or any other issue close to heart, you can make that choice in the database.
Furthermore, a vessel or shipping company cannot perform well in only one area of the index (for instance sulphur emissions) and get a good over all performance. You do not get good grades from being a perfect student in just one of the subjects. Additionally you will be rewarded the more you add of your fleet into the database. Last but not least, the index goes further than current legislation and is therefore a dynamic index. What was good environmental performance at one time might change as new technology gets installed and the environmental legislation becomes stricter.
The Clean Shipping index is an easy-to-use, transparent tool, no matter if you’re a shipping company, a cargo owner or a forwarder. As a shipping company the reporting of information regarding your vessels will help you reach out with your environmental work. The index may also serve as a benchmark towards good environmental performance. As a cargo owner the database is a unique tool to compare the environmental performance of your tenderers during the procurement process. As a forwarder you can help your clients put focus on the environmental issues of shipping.