Environmental initiatives

Protection of the environment and prevention of pollution are of great importance to Laurin Maritime. The company complies in full with mandatory rules and regulations and is committed to reaching beyond minimum compliance and being at the forefront of environmental performance. The company implements best available practices and is continuously investigating new possibilities to reduce the impact on the environment.

Reducing air emissions: the Energy Conservation Program
Although shipping is a large contributor to global air emissions, it is the most energy efficient means of transportation, emitting less CO₂ per transported tons of cargo than trucks and airplanes. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is working towards more stringent legislations on emissions from shipping. Laurin Maritime supports the IMO's work and considers it of high importance to find solutions to this global problem.

Laurin Maritime has launched a company specific Energy Conservation Program which contains procedures and policies which reduce energy consumption and air emissions. A goal has been set to reduce the average sulfur content in bunkered fuel with 10% by 2008.

The following is a selection of measures the company takes to reduce the energy consumption:

• Reducing speed at all possible occasions
• Striving to purchase low-sulfur bunker fuel
• Tracing and correcting heat losses on steam lines and electrical equipment
• Using weather routing software on all vessels to determine the most efficient and safest route
• Insulating the fuel tanks to reduce heat losses
• Modifying the boilers to reduce energy losses and the formation of particular matter
• Streamlining the main engine heating to save energy

Oily water management
The limit for the oil content in bilge water that can be discharged is 15 parts per million (ppm). Laurin Maritime has retrofitted new highly efficient bilge water separators on existing vessels, which reduces the oil content to a level far below the set limit.

Chemicals
Many types of cleaning agents are used onboard a ship. Several of the solvents and surfactants can be harmful to the health of the persons handling them and to the environment. Laurin Maritime has created and implemented a company specific Chemical Product Standard which prescribes the usage of more environmentally friendly chemicals. In addition, Laurin Maritime continuously investigates and implements new measures to reduce chemical consumption.

Environmental Awareness
Commitment to environmental standards is based on awareness, understanding, and involvement. Laurin Maritime strives to enhance the environmental awareness among its employees by communication and education. Energy saving procedures are being emphasized on posters onboard the ships and the Company has established an Environmental Award. Although the largest part of the environmental impact comes from the ship operations, Laurin Maritime has created Environmental Office Guidelines with concrete measures to reduce the impact from ashore activities.