As a quality and service-oriented company, our long-term success is based above all on sustainable relationships with our business partners and employees, as well as the environment.

As part of our certified quality and environmental management standards, according to ISO regulations 9001 and 14001, and our Safety Management Systems, we are committed to offering our customers:

• the highest quality and maximum security (customer focus), 
• conservation of existing resources through innovative processes (digitization),
• to protect the environment and the climate (environmental and climate protection),
• and creating a healthy, safe and attractive working environment for our colleagues (employees).

Our aim is to make the transport of materials and goods across the sea as safe and environmentally-friendly as possible. For many decades, we have regarded sustainable action as the basis of our past and future success. Since 2019, the focus has been on minimizing emissions; in particular reducing our CO2 output.

The topic of sustainability is an essential element of the Quality, Health, Safety and Environment Management System (QHSE), which is certified by DNV according to ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management). In addition to the onshore organisation, the certification includes all ships. We use the results of annual audits to continuously question ourselves and improve our processes.

As part of our digitisation strategy, we have equipped all of our ships with modern video conferencing systems. These systems enable us to carry out online training, audits, or technical meetings; for example, as part of error diagnostics. In 2021, around a third of the annual audits were carried out online. The installation of video conferencing systems on board our ships has thus made a lasting and effective contribution to reducing travel time and travel-related emissions.

In the area of environmental protection, we strive not only to meet the current regulations, but also those that are readily foreseeable from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the European Union, the flag and port states, as well as the industry standards of our customers.

With the existing certificates for the energy efficiency of new ships (EEDI - Energy Efficiency Design Index) and the certification for the avoidance of oil, water, and air pollution, we were one of the first shipping companies in the world to operate within the framework of the MARPOL Convention at the beginning of 2021, together with the DNV, starting the certification of our ships according to the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI). The EEDI and the EEXI relate to engine power, specific fuel consumption and the CO2 factor of the deadweight load and speed of the ship. These two indexes are the basis for checking the success of the measures taken.

At the beginning of 2021, the Vessel Performance Management (VPM) department was established and state-of-the-art software for regular recording and evaluation of consumption, as well as engine and transport performance, was installed on our ships. We strive to record and permanently reduce all emissions caused by the operation of the ships. Additional sensors for automated data acquisition and analysis were installed on selected ships as part of pilot projects.

Since 2013, all new additions to our fleet have been installed with electronically-controlled engines and a low-rev concept feature. This has led to reduced specific fuel consumption.

The calculated EEXI and data recorded on board form the basis for evaluating possible emission-reducing measures. In addition to medium-term technical measures, there are primarily operational measures:

•  to improve hydrodynamics (hull coating and cleaning),
•  to increase the efficiency of the systems (propulsion, systems and control),
•  to evaluate more sustainable fuels and energy sources (biofuel) in focus. 

The permanent establishment of operational and additional measures to increase the awareness of all employees in the company, especially colleagues on board vessels, should be completed by the end of 2023.

At the same time, the ecological and economic effects of more complex structural measures, such as optimising the shape of the hull or converting engines, generators and boiler systems, are being examined. These investigations include the creation of life-cycle assessments for production, operation over the predicted period of use, and disposal of particular components.

The consumption of our vessels is constantly monitored and regularly analysed. Optimisation potentials are identified on the basis of recorded figures. Through the QHSE instructions and the Ship Energy Efficiency Plan (SEEMP), regulations for the continuous reduction of emissions are made binding for all ships. Individual and verifiable specifications for power and speed limitations are being drawn up for all ships.

In addition to the monitoring and analysis of measurable values by the VPM, the video conferencing systems installed on board make it possible to actively and regularly involve the crews in dialogue, and in this way to jointly develop optimisation methods while in operation.

A significant factor influencing the energy consumption of the ship is the water resistance of the hull. All ships docked since 2019 have been using high-quality antifouling paint systems, which effectively prevent fouling of the hull in the period between two dockings, even at the lowest speeds. The growth of fouling is continuously monitored on all ships and the underwater hull is cleaned. By regularly removing the growth, fuel consumption on the affected ships could be reduced by more than 10% in some cases.

Distillates and residual oils are used as fuels. Since January 2020, a limit of 0.5% sulphur content has applied internationally for all fuels used in the maritime sector (IMO 2020). Fuels with a higher sulphur content may only be used on ships with exhaust gas washers, so-called ‘scrubbers’. SLOMAN NEPTUN has decided against the use of exhaust gas scrubbers and only uses IMO-2020-compliant fuels with a low sulphur content.

The use of alternative fuels and new propulsion technologies will be essential in order to achieve the emission reduction targets in seafaring. SLOMAN NEPTUN is following technical developments and examining their application possibilities.

All of our ships are used in tramp trade shipping around the world. One criterion when evaluating alternative fuels is therefore their availability, even in remote ports. The use of biofuels, the usability of which is currently being examined in more detail, appears to be practically feasible. By using biofuel, greenhouse gas emissions can be significantly reduced compared to conventional fuels. Individual studies predict reductions of over 80%. Due to the fact that standardisation has not yet taken place, the use of biofuels still requires a case-by-case assessment. Reliable or scalable statements on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in operation are not yet possible.

In the context of water protection, in addition to avoiding pollution of the seas by oil or waste, the main concern is compliance with ballast water regulations to prevent the unwanted spread of invasive species. SLOMAN NEPTUN has certified ballast water management plans on all ships, and ballast water treatment systems in operation on most vessels. The last three ships in the fleet will be equipped with ballast water treatment systems by the end of 2022. All plans and installed systems not only meet the international requirements of the IMO, but also the much stricter regulations of the American Coast Guard (USCG).

SLOMAN NEPTUN strives to prevent waste from occurring in the first place. Unavoidable waste is collected on board, separated, and handed over to the ports for professional disposal. The types of waste that are handed in are recorded separately according to quantities. Only organic kitchen waste may be shredded on board and disposed of at sea.

We aim to keep our ships in operation for as long as possible. Due to the restrictions of our customers, we regularly do not operate tankers that are older than 25 years. Accordingly, we sell ships to other markets shortly before the fifth-class docking is due at the latest. The technical condition of our ships would allow safe operation far beyond the end of the fifth-class run. That is why our ships are only recycled in absolutely exceptional cases. In recent years we have been able to sell all of our ships for continued operation. Nevertheless, we assume responsibility during the construction and operation of the ships and take all necessary precautions so that our ships can be recycled as environmentally friendly as possible, if necessary also by subsequent owners. All our ships have an Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) in accordance with European regulations. As part of our supplier management, we oblige all of our suppliers to only supply materials and equipment on board that are IHM-compliant certified.