Did you know that over 80% of global trade depends on shipping? As we continue to play this vital economic role, we also carry a responsibility to reduce emissions and minimise the environmental impact of shipping to support a sustainable future. Learn how Fleet Management is contributing below.
Action Onboard
Onboard or onshore, our teams are taking action today to reduce the impact of our operations. One of the key ways we achieve this is by reducing consumption (e.g. single-use plastics) and reusing or recycling goods responsibly.
One of the simplest but most effective changes we’ve made onboard is the wider use of reverse-osmosis (R-O) water purification units. These units produce fresh water onboard, reducing the need to bring bottled water from shore, which in turn lowers transport emissions and plastic waste. In 2024, half of our managed vessels reported using R-O systems, and all owned ships already have them installed. The campaign was supported by onboard posters to educate and encourage seafarers about the R-O system. An environmental survey revealed strong crew engagement and participation. These steps have helped reduce garbage volumes and lessen the risk of marine pollution.
Fleet Management has also introduced evaporation and clean-drain tanks to reduce bilge discharges, and engaged suppliers to remove excess packaging, with a notable 67% of packaging materials returned to vendors for recycling or reuse in 2024. These practical measures show how operational changes, crew training, and supplier engagement combine to lower our footprint at sea.
Action Onshore
Our commitment to sustainability doesn’t stop at sea, it is embedded in how we operate onshore. The same practical mindset guides our offices, where we continue to make meaningful changes that reduce our environmental footprint. For example, we have redoubled our efforts to eliminate single-use plastics by moving to refillable glass bottles, reusable cups, and bamboo tableware.
In 2024, our office waste management programme recorded 210 m³ of waste across three sites. Of this, 30% of useful materials were recycled, and food waste was sent to energy recovery facilities in Hong Kong. Our Cyprus and Singapore offices are following Hong Kong’s lead, with single-use plastic elimination programmes moving steadily toward full implementation.
To support consistency across locations, we follow a standard operating procedure that outlines responsibilities, conducts plastic audits, sets implementation milestones, and recommends reusable or certified biodegradable alternatives, making the roll-out replicable across all offices.
We have also reduced our environmental footprint through the power of thoughtful design, with our Mumbai Andheri office earning LEED Platinum certification for interior works and cutting indoor water use by over 55% through high-performance fixtures, while diverting 95% of construction waste to authorised recyclers. We are proud of these wins because they prove that office design and simple behaviour changes can deliver measurable environmental gains.
Looking to 2030
Last month, Fleet Management launched its 2025–2030 ESG Strategy, setting a clear course for sustainable development. Approved by the Supervisory Board and grounded in our Encompass framework, the strategy aligns with IMO 2050 and UNGC principles, and commits us to measurable progress in decarbonisation, safety, and inclusion. Our 2030 targets include reducing ship GHG intensity by 30% from a 2008 baseline, achieving a 5% low-emission fuel mix, training 25% of seafarers on alternative fuels, and reaching zero work-related fatalities.
This World Maritime Day, we celebrate the ocean’s potential and renew our obligation to protect it, not through grand gestures, but through steady, practical steps that reduce waste, conserve water, and rethink single-use plastics. Fleet Management’s progress shows the way forward, and we invite every colleague, client, and partner to join us on this journey.
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