The Swedish operator says it decreased its overall CO2 emissions by 1.7 percent during 2019, equivalent to an overall of 24,000 metric tons of CO2 while CO2 emissions per ton of freight and passenger vehicles transported on board the vessels dropped by 3.6 percent.

In its recently released sustainability summary report, the organization states that it is already meeting the International Maritime Organization ( IMO) goal of a 40 percent reduction in CO2 emissions from 2008-2030 for 2030.

“During the last 10 years we have improved the efficiency with more than 320 energy efficiency actions onboard and onshore, both technical and operational improvements and investments,” says Erik Lewenhaupt, Head of Sustainability at Stena Line.

Other noteworthy initiatives include reducing virtually all on-board use of plastic and increasing the share of recycled content in its offices, ports and terminals. The company has also reduced the use of hazardous chemicals and detergents; the recently launched Stena Estrid and Stena Edda vessels feature eco-label chemicals at 80 percent.

Stena Line estimates the number of female executives in the business has risen, with 20 per cent of managers now being female.

Looking forward, Stena Line says that given the current tough business conditions facing the ferry industry in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic it will continue to follow its sustainability plan.

Maritime Business World