Page 4 - SG Nautilus Issue 47.indb

ISSUE 47 PAGE 2

FOREWORD

sailing To say that the global economy rivers. The company, featured
depends on shipping would be
in Company Spotlight, is also
involved in clearing Singapore’s
a vast understatement; after all,
more than 80% of all trade is waterways of navigation hazards
seaborne. And Singapore — a and rubbish from ships anchored
global hub port — has certainly in the Port of Singapore.
towards reaped the rewards of the more Beyond putting a sulphur cap
than 130,000 ships that call at its on bunker fuels, the maritime
greener port each year. industry collectively needs to
According to the World Shipping
reduce its carbon footprint.
Council, shipping is the most To this end, an International
Advisory Panel on Maritime
carbon-friendly transportation
practices mode, citing an International Decarbonisation was recently
formed. In Personality, Singapore
Maritime Organization (IMO) report,
which states that international Nautilus speaks to
While shipping may already be the least- shipping accounts for only 2.7% Mr Andreas Sohmen-Pao,
of the annual global greenhouse Co-Chairman of the panel, about
polluting transportation mode, Singapore-
gas emissions. The council also how that role dovetails with his
based and international shipping lines cites another report — by the position as Chairman of the
alike are implementing more sustainable Swedish Network for Transport Singapore Maritime Foundation.
and the Environment — which says He was also part of a webinar
practices to protect the environment shipping produces far less gaseous on the decarbonisation issue —
emissions per tonne per kilometre read the panellists’ insights in
than by either air or road. Community Talk.
However little the amount of In addition to making Maritime
pollution generated by shipping, Singapore a centre of best
it all adds up. This takes into practices to protect and sustain
consideration the sheer number the marine environment, MPA
of vessels plying just the waters is committed to supporting our
of Singapore alone. It is therefore seafarers, who sacrifice time away

encouraging to learn that shipping from friends and family to man
companies, especially our local ships, mobilise supply chains, and
ones, are pursuing environmental keep our ports open. To this end,
protection as part of their MPA — together with our industry
business practices. partners, shipping associations,
For example, Eastern Pacifi c and our unions — has put in place
Shipping’s entire fl eet is already a slew of initiatives to provide a
IMO 2020-compliant. More ‘safe corridor’ for crew change and
positively, some vessels are other support for seafarers. Read
already using LNG and LPG, and more about this in Special Feature.
management is open to even I hope that, after reading this
greener bunker fuels. More issue, you will be inspired to take
details are available in your own steps — personal and
Commentary. Another threat to professional — to be a good
the marine environment is plastic steward of the environment for the
pollution. This is more insidious, next generation.
g
as this near-indestructible
material ends up in the food
chain when it breaks up into small
particles. Tian San Shipping is
keen to capture plastic fl otsam CAITLIN FUA
CAITLIN FUA
at its source, which is usually the EXECUTIVE EDITOR