Marine sustainability
Thinking sustainably beyond decarbonization
Maritime decarbonization is a pressing issue for our industry, but it is not the only environmental issue we face. As we race to cut emissions, we must also work to address a wider range of environmental impacts, including air and noise pollution.
Many maritime stakeholders are already responding to this challenge. Interest in supporting green technology and sustainable shipping is growing across the industry. As a result, new funding opportunities for banks and shipowners are rising around the world.
At the same time, our industry must continue to improve health and safety for crews and onshore personnel through robust safety assessments, crew training and other targeted actions. A more sustainable maritime industry will improve the lives of our people, as well as the health of our planet.
Head of Sustainability Advanced Services
Building truly sustainable fleets requires action to address biodiversity protection, underwater radiated noise, air and water pollution, and other non-carbon concerns. By tackling these issues head on, we can shape a better maritime world.
Ship recycling | The global fleet is aging, bringing the necessity of fleet renewal to the fore. Like all assets, ships have a natural lifecycle and eventually reach the end of their operational life. Thousands of vessels are decommissioned each year, and once retired, they must be dismantled and recycled. This demolition process is often conducted in dangerous and dirty conditions. Recent international regulations seek to compel the industry to improve this process. To help shipowners comply with these new rules, Bureau Veritas provides a suite of services related to decommissioning. Learn More |
Underwater radiated noise (URN) | Most vessels emit a significant range of noise and vibration at sea, which can harm wildlife and impact the health of crew and passengers. Shipowners and operators can take action to minimize URN, including by investing in electrification and sailing at slower speeds. Bureau Veritas’ URN notation enables our clients to demonstrate the actions they have taken to limit URN. |
Green financing | As shipowners look to build new ships or retrofit their existing fleet in a sustainable way, green finance is growing in importance. Green financing allows owners to unlock loans to decarbonize their vessels and comply with emissions targets. In general, this funding is tied to the carbon intensity of the vessel, ensuring pragmatic action to cut emissions. Funding dedicated to scaling up the production of alternative fuels is also becoming more available. Bureau Veritas’ independent advisory arm can provide technical advisory and validation services to financial institutions and shipowners. We verify compliance with relevant governmental programs and conduct due diligence assessments where appropriate. |
Fostering a more sustainable fleet
Bureau Veritas offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to help our clients ensure the sustainability of their vessels and operations.
Our SUSTAINABLESHIP notations enable our clients to demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship by optimizing their vessels to minimize all environmental impacts. They also facilitate compliance with a wide range of environmental regulations, such as MARPOL, the Ballast Water Management Convention and the Hong Kong Convention.
Through our Future Shipping Team, we help our clients assess the decisions that make the most sense for their fleets. We provide technical advisory services, carry out risk analyses and impact assessment studies and support digitalization to enable real-time decision-making.
Toward a Sustainable Blue Economy
In this book, Matthieu de Tugny, Executive Vice President of Industrials and Commodities at Bureau Veritas, explores what shaping a better maritime world really means. He makes the case that class societies have a key role to play in driving maritime decarbonization by thinking big and executing with pragmatism.
