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SHIPPING S E N S I B LY
n today’s corporate climate, non-financial factors are rising in significance as indicators of a company’s performance, holding greater appeal to stakeholders and influence for investors. At the forefront of this is Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), as greater transparency is expected from companies in terms of their commitment to recognising and acting on social responsibilities, ranging from climate change to social unrest and a host of matters in between. The maritime sector is no different, as businesses embrace ESG as a means to navigate both risk and opportunity. This comes as the call for decarbonisation in the industry grows increasingly deafening, and 16 | APAC Outlook issue 55
Aishwarya Iyer, ESG Manager RightShip takes the helm of implementing ESG strategies across the maritime industry. Charting new waters into Singapore, we speak with ESG Manager, Aishwarya Iyer Writer: Phoebe Harper
fact-based disclosure is expected from regulators, financiers, and cargo owners. “Corporates themselves are beginning to see the benefits of transparent ESG reporting and their role in conserving marine ecosystems, reducing emissions, enhancing crew welfare and running ethical businesses,” says Aishwarya Iyer, ESG Manager for RightShip – the world’s largest third-party due diligence player. “ESG as a discipline is well positioned to move from being an add-on or overlay to becoming a mainstream topic just like traditional financial reporting,” she continues. Indeed, as ESG continues to be carried on a tide of acceptance and incorporation into the mainstream,
