Friend of the Sea has recently launched the new international certification for sustainable shipping. Two large global shipping companies, GreenSea and Seatrade, audited by the third party auditor BMT Surveys, were found compliant with the Friend of the Sea criteria and have achieved the certification.
“Merchant shipping is currently carrying more than 90% of international trade. Although some shipping companies have already implemented several strict sustainability measures, there are still many of them which don’t even comply with the minimum requirements,” explains Paolo Bray, Founder and Director of Friend of the Sea. “This is why an international certification for sustainable shipping – such as Friend of the Sea – is fundamental for producers and retailers to easily select environmentally friendly shipping companies. This is even more important for companies which claim sustainability of their seafood’s origin.”
The Friend of the Sea certification criteria include pollution prevention, water and waste control, social accountability and sustainable seafood requirements.
GreenSea and Seatrade both have their operational offices in Antwerp, Belgium and carry frozen food products, including tuna and other seafood, around the world.
Greensea’s current fleet is composed of about 40 high-standard, small to middle-sized vessels with their own cargo gear and other handling equipment. All of the vessels have achieved the Friend of the Sea certification.
“Becoming a Friend of the Sea certified company is an important step forward for a dedicated shipping career like GreenSea,” says Hans Mol, Managing Director of GreenSea Chartering. “We have always been committed to sustainability and this certification recognizes our efforts and long-term commitment to responsible shipping.”
Seatrade, on the other hand, has a large fleet of around 100 specialized reefer vessels of various sizes; 16 of them have already achieved the certification.
“Seatrade has always promoted sustainable practices,” says Michiel Schaap of Seatrade Reefer Chartering. “Thanks to the Friend of the Sea certification we can now show a further evidence of our commitment to responsible shipping to our international customers.”
Watch the video of the new certification
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Friend of the Sea
Friend of the Sea is an international certification program for products from sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. Over 450 companies in more than 50 countries have relied on Friend of the Sea to assess the sustainability of their seafood origins. Audits, based on best and most updated available scientific data, are run by accredited independent certification bodies.
Source: Friend of the Sea