Maritime
Friend of
the Sea
and Varuna
Marine
Services
together
to boost
sustainable
shipping
certification
worldwide
F
riend of the Sea, the international certification scheme for sustainable sea-
food and Dutch marine surveying firm Varuna Marine Services have signed
a collaboration agreement to boost sustainable shipping globally.
The two parties agreed that Rotterdam-based Varuna Marine Services
would support Friend of the Sea in expanding globally its Sustainable
Shipping Certification Program. The certification requirements span from
pollution prevention to fuel efficiency, from waste management to social
accountability. In particular, most updated pollution prevention systems
must have been implemented to reduce the emissions of NOx, SOx, PM and
CO2, as well as chemicals. Water and waste management measures must
be in place. Moreover, in order to combat illegal fishing (IUU), it is forbidden for audited
vessels to use a Flag of Convenience, to carry any endangered species, Dolphin-Unsafe
tuna or more in general seafood fished or transhipped illegally.
Compliance with social accountability is an important part of the Friend of the Sea sustain-
able shipping certification, focusing on minor labour, regular contracts and compliance with
minimum wage rules, health care, maximum number of working hours,
rest and vacations plan.
“The collaboration with Varuna Marine Services will help the certifica-
tion’s global spread,” explains Paolo Bray, Founder and Director of Friend of
the Sea, “It will guarantee audit’s high performance.”
Varuna Marine Services offers a broad portfolio of services, both
traditional and cutting-edge, enabling maritime businesses to position
themselves at the forefront of change. Key to the partnership with Friend
of the Sea are Varuna Marine Service’s worldwide network of qualified sur-
veyors and its global client base.
"This new partnership builds on our commitment to sustainable
20
shipping. We are pleased to use our expertise and global network to
ensure better protection of the oceans,” says Sanjeev Wewerinke Singh,
Genera Manager of Varuna Marine Services.
So far, two major European shipping companies, GreenSea and
Seatrade, audited by the third party auditor BMT Survey, have embraced
Friend of the Sea standard voluntarily. Moreover, in an effort to further
reduce its environmental impact, French tuna ship-owner Compagnie
Française du Thon Océanique (CFTO) is now moving its Friend of the
Sea certified tuna only by means of certified sustainable ship-
ping operators.
www.friendofthesea.org