Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics has since it’s establishment 15 years ago actively worked to progress the environmental agenda within the shipping industry. The company’s implementation of a volountary low sulphur fuel policy (>1,5 % globally, regulatory requirement 3,5%) has helped pave the way for low sulphur bunker.
The company is one of the driving forces behind The Trident Alliance, the shipping industry initiative for robust enforcement of maritime sulphur regulations, working in line with the Mission Ocean’s proposals on Governance.
Through it’s Orcelle Award, handed out in cooperation with The Ocean Exchange, the company also promotes and supports clean tech entrepreneurs working on alternative energy sources and energy efficient technologies for commercial ocean vessels, and marine terminal & processing facilities. This focus reflects WWL’s own research and development into the E/S Orcelle, a zero-emissions concept vessel, and the Castor Green Terminal, a zero-emissions terminal and cargo processing centre.
In order to truly succeed ocean regulations ideally need to be global, to reflect the borderless nature of the ocean itself. In addition, enforcement is key. No matter how stringent regulations are, if they cannot or are not enforced they will not have the desired impact. Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics welcomes the Global Ocean Commission’s constructive proposals as a great step towards achieveing this objective. -Christopher J. Connor, President & CEO, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics
UNCLOS implementing agreement on high seas marine biological diversity Universal ratification and prompt implementation of existing agreements Special Representative for the Ocean Regional Ocean Management Organisations
International regulations are failing to preserve the high seas, and to manage its valuable resources sustainably and fairly. The existing governance structure is insufficient, weak and chaotic, and is often not respected. Political leadership is needed to strengthen high seas governance and make it fit for purpose in the 21st Century.
With this in mind, the Global Ocean Commission is calling for:
A new global agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in international waters;
All countries to adhere to ‘the constitution of the ocean’ (UNCLOS) and other relevant international agreements, and to apply them;
The appointment, by the UN Secretary-General, of a high level UN Special Representative for the Ocean, to coordinate all areas related to the ocean and the law of the sea, and provide the leadership needed for action;
Regular independent reviews of regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) to make them accountable for their environmental performance;
Regional ocean management organisations (ROMOs) to be created – or formed by adapting existing organisations – that are responsible for the preservation and productivity of the entire ecosystem, rather than only fish resources or specific species;
Ocean envoys or ministers to be appointed at country level, to create stronger coordination between ministries responsible for fishing, environment, climate, development, mining and other ocean-related issues.