Tyneside’s North P&I Club fixes sights on net zero

Shipping insurer North P&I Club has announced it aims to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

The Tyneside-headquartered firm – which operates globally – launched its 2030 Sustainability Strategy that includes a raft of pledges covering emissions, zero waste to landfill targets and supply chain standards.

North’s chief executive, Paul Jennings, said the 161-year-old insurer was looking forward to “doing more, and quicker” to address environmental and societal issues.

He explained: “Sustainability has been a driving principle of North for some time now – and we’ve achieved a lot in terms of protecting the marine environment and supporting the health and wellbeing of people, including our own team and the many thousands of seafarers working for our members.

“This strategy sets out seven ambitious targets for our own business, covering carbon emissions, waste, our supply chain, diversity and inclusion, corporate social responsibility, employee engagement and investments.

“Our role as part of the International Group of P&I Clubs – together insuring around 90 per cent of the world’s ocean-going shipping – means we’re a facilitator of change in the industry. We can also support our members to become more sustainable.”

North’s net zero pledge will be met by reductions in use of fossil fuels to power and heat its buildings, from its headquarters in Newcastle to its offices around the world, as well as a reduction in the use of company vehicles and a reduction in business travel.

Alongside the strategy, the insurer has published an impact report demonstrating the strength of its sustainability work to date.

That work has included preventing pollution-related incidents by providing safety tools such as the industry-leading GlobeView platform that gives shipping operators real-time information about threats such as dangerous weather and piracy.

And North’s expert claims team has advised and coordinated some of the world’s most significant clean-up operations following pollution incidents. A notable example of this was  the use of specially constructed environmental protection barriers connected to the seabed that contained debris and pollutants from an overturned car carrier off the coast of Brunswick, USA.

Elsewhere, North’s specialists have advised on the delicate removal of fuel supplies from a cargo ship that sank off the coast of South Korea. The operation included using remote controlled vehicles to remove the fuel from the wreck.

Mark Church, Head of Sustainability, said: “We’re driving forward to meet our own targets and we’re looking forward to being able to report on our progress.

“We’re also excited about the role we play in the global maritime sector, and we’ve got a number of initiatives to make sure we’re helping our members meet the challenges they face.

“For example, our Navigating Decarbonisation group helps shipping operators respond to the complex and emerging regulatory landscape concerning climate change and sustainability.

“Here on Tyneside, we’ve got globally respected people with the expertise and enthusiasm to help deliver big changes in our sector and make waves around the world.”

The full 2030 Sustainability Strategy and Impact Report can be downloaded here.