The Seafarer Perspective in Social Sustainability Reporting: Do Sustainability Reports of Leading European Container Shipping Companies Reflect the Social Issues of Seafarers?
Kraemer, Theite (2024)
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024052415479
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024052415479
Tiivistelmä
Currently used standards within sustainability reports, such as the sustainability standards from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), were designed with shore-based companies in mind. However, seafaring is a unique profession, characterized by living and working in a small, moving space for a long time.
This study aimed to analyze, if the latest sustainability reports of leading European container shipping companies reflect the social issues of seafarers.
A literature review and review of social sustainability in maritime and sustainability reporting standards formed the background. In the next step, the issues of seafarers were identified via review and content analysis of studies and reports. The results were compiled in a checklist to evaluate, if and how the sustainability reports of leading European container shipping companies – namely MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM and Hapag Lloyd – addressed those topics.
The results of the study showed that there was no common approach or structure in the reports and a significant variation on reported topics, transparency, and level of detail. Companies addressed seafarer issues to various degrees, from disregarding seafarers through to attempts to systematically address seafarers as specific group within the workforce. Another finding was that current reporting standards do not cater to the unique characteristics of the seafaring profession. In conclusion, the results of this thesis showed that there is a need for industry-specific reporting standards or guidelines. The results were discussed with an industry expert who agreed on the findings and complemented them with additional insights. The compiled checklist could provide practical value for the industry and serve as guidance for companies to better assess and improve seafarer wellbeing.
This study aimed to analyze, if the latest sustainability reports of leading European container shipping companies reflect the social issues of seafarers.
A literature review and review of social sustainability in maritime and sustainability reporting standards formed the background. In the next step, the issues of seafarers were identified via review and content analysis of studies and reports. The results were compiled in a checklist to evaluate, if and how the sustainability reports of leading European container shipping companies – namely MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM and Hapag Lloyd – addressed those topics.
The results of the study showed that there was no common approach or structure in the reports and a significant variation on reported topics, transparency, and level of detail. Companies addressed seafarer issues to various degrees, from disregarding seafarers through to attempts to systematically address seafarers as specific group within the workforce. Another finding was that current reporting standards do not cater to the unique characteristics of the seafaring profession. In conclusion, the results of this thesis showed that there is a need for industry-specific reporting standards or guidelines. The results were discussed with an industry expert who agreed on the findings and complemented them with additional insights. The compiled checklist could provide practical value for the industry and serve as guidance for companies to better assess and improve seafarer wellbeing.