The Sea Cargo Charter to revamp reporting ambitions

The Sea Cargo Charter (SCC) plans to revise its reporting ambitions, aligning its trajectory with emission reduction goals in response to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) revised greenhouse gas (GHG) strategy adopted during MEPC80 in July 2023.

The SCC said it was set to expand its current membership scope to include shipowners, demonstrating a commitment to industry inclusivity and sustainable practices. With 37 signatories representing over 17% of total bulk cargo transported by sea annually, the SCC unites to enhance data sharing, boost transparency, and create accountability across the maritime supply chain

“Today, as representatives of the Sea Cargo Charter, we announce a revised trajectory in response to the latest IMO ambition unveiled during MEPC80 in July,” said Rasmus Bach Nielsen, Sea Cargo Charter Chair and Global Head of Fuel Decarbonisation at Trafigura. 

“The Sea Cargo Charter aligns shipping emissions reporting with the new IMO ambition and expands its scope, allowing all ship owners to report under the same framework if they so wish—further demonstrating the charter’s proactive stance in fostering transparency and sustainability across the maritime industry.”

“Adopting IMO’s revised GHG strategy as well as opening the door to owners are two critical milestones for the Sea Cargo Charter as this will accelerate gaining traction within the industry,” said Eman Abdalla, Global Operations & Supply Chain Director at Cargill Ocean Transportation.

 “By increasing accessibility, improving the quality of data and encouraging the collaboration between charterers and shipowners, we expect a knock-on effect of pushing standards for monitoring emissions and facilitating well-informed decision-making.”

The charter, which was launched in October 2020, provides a global framework for aligning chartering activities with responsible environmental behavior in order to promote international shipping’s decarbonization.

The charter gathers some of the world’s largest energy, agriculture, mining, and commodity trading companies, including Trafigura, Cargill, and Shell, who have committed to report on CO2 emissions reduction of their shipping activities in line with the industry’s decarbonization goals.