We continuously strive to engage our employees when it comes to being a sustainable business. In light of the upcoming Biodiversity Week (19-26 May), we kickstarted the activities early with a Biodiversity Lunch Talk for our colleagues. Hosted by Jess Lee, Certified Trainer from Supply Chain & Logistics Academy, we learnt how biodiversity affects our maritime industry and what we can do to preserve the ecosystems we live in. Here are some key takeaways from the talk:
Ecosystem Stability
Biodiversity can have both positive and negative effects on the maritime and shipping industry as it helps to maintain the stability and resilience of marine ecosystems. Diverse communities of species provide better resistance to environmental disturbances such as pollution, climate change, and natural disasters. If one species is affected by a disturbance, other species may compensate for its loss, maintaining the overall health and functioning of the ecosystem.
Shipping Operations
The presence of marine biodiversity can affect shipping operations in various ways. For example, shipping lanes may be diverted or regulated to avoid sensitive habitats or migratory routes of marine species. Also, some marine organisms may attach themselves to the hulls of ships. This phenomenon is known as biofouling and it can affect the performance, efficiency, and maintenance of ship hulls. Biofouling organisms, especially barnacles and other shellfish, attach themselves to the hull surface, creating roughness and increasing hydrodynamic drag. This leads to reduced vessel speed, increased fuel consumption and higher operating costs for the shipping industry.
Environmental Regulations
The maritime industry is subject to various environmental regulations that aim to protect marine biodiversity. For example, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has implemented regulations to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and prevent the discharge of harmful substances into the oceans. If the ecosystems are compromised, this could lead to additional costs for industry players so as to be compliant with these regulations.
It’s Now 5Rs
While many are familiar with the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle), we are now strongly encouraged to go the distance and add two more R’s in the cycle – refuse and repurpose. As a closing, Jess recommended: “Begin with the end in mind – refuse any plastics right from the start when making a purchase. As for items at the end of their usage, give it a new lease of life and repurpose such as turning old clothes into a bag.”
