Biodiversity: Our impact on maritime ecosystems
Solvang deploys comprehensive measures to protect the marine environment, in compliance with GRI 101: Biodiversity, and the UN SDG 14 – Life below water.
Our impact on maritime ecosystems assessed
Solvang deploys comprehensive measures to protect the marine environment, in compliance with GRI 101: Biodiversity, and the UN SDG 14 – Life below water.
Solvang recognizes that marine ecosystems are under increasing pressure from climate change and human activity. In response, and in line with SDG 14’s call for coordinated global action to conserve and sustainably use
the oceans, Solvang focuses on avoiding and minimizing operational impacts rather than offsetting damage.
Seawater scrubber
Solvang’s seawater scrubber reduces sulphur oxide emissions by converting them into sea salt using naturally occurring calcium carbonate. The efficiency exceeds 98 percent, and there are no harmful by-products.
In 2024, Solvang submitted five years of wash water sampling data to the IMO, verified by independent research institutions. The results showed no pollution for 41 components, as well as pH and turbidity. This indicates
that Solvang’s scrubber operations do not adversely affect surrounding seawater.
Ballast water treatment
Ballast water is recognized as a major risk for transferring
invasive alien species, which may disrupt local marine
ecosystems. To mitigate this risk, Solvang applies an
advanced ballast treatment system which eliminates
microorganisms prior to discharging the ballast water.
Biofouling management
Marine organisms may attach to hulls and transfer to new environments where they invade local ecosystems. To reduce this risk, Solvang applies high-performance antifouling coatings and continuously monitors hull
resistance to marine growth. Marine growth is removed by hull cleaning at the earliest opportunity, reducing both biodiversity risks and fuel
consumption penalties.
TBT-free coatings
Solvang collaborates with coating suppliers to ensure that antifouling systems maintain both environmental performance and operational efficiency throughout each docking cycle. All vessels have applied coatings free of organotin compounds such as tributyltin (TBT), due to ban
under IMO’s International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships.
Garbage and waste handling
In accordance with MARPOL requirements, all Solvang vessels have a garbage management plan. Vessels handle and segregate waste for delivery to shore facilities, permitted discharge to sea, or controlled onboard incineration. Residues are subsequently delivered ashore
for approved processing.
Bilge water and sewage management
All bilge water onboard Solvang vessels is processed through oil-water separators, with each discharge recorded in the oil record book in compliance with MARPOL Annex I. Waste oil and sludge are either incinerated onboard or delivered to approved shore-based facilities.
Sewage is managed in accordance with MARPOL Annex IV. All vessels maintain holding tanks and treatment systems by international standards.
Oil leakage prevention
The risk of oil leakage to sea is strictly limited to thrusters only, as the propeller shaft has air seal systems. Maintenance schedules are strictly followed, oil consumption is closely monitored, and biodegradable oils
are used wherever approved by equipment manufacturers.
Limitations and ecosystem services
Solvang does not operate fixed sites or exercise control over marine ecosystems. Consequently, Solvang does not directly measure changes in ecosystem conditions.
Nevertheless, by preventing pollution and transfer of invasive species, Solvang contributes to marine ecosystem protection through water quality regulation and habitat integrity.
GRI disclosures
101-1 Policies to halt and reverse biodiversity loss: Policies aligned with IMO Marpol Annex VI, UN SDGs 14 & 16, and ISO 14001, for own operations
and suppliers. KPIs includes minimizing discharges and zero spill. Assessing and monitoring of sea effluents. Ballast treatment and biofouling plans; EGC open-loop washwater treatment and monitoring.
101-2 Management of biodiversity impacts: Solvang’s Environmental Management System (ISO 14001), Ballast Water Treatment System, Biofouling Management Plan, discharge monitoring, and regular risk assessments. Biodiversity part of ESG strategy and risk management via Ballast Water Management Policy. Biodiversity is not explicitly considered
in procurement. Fleet management is the responsible function. No tradeoffs identified.
101-4 Identification of biodiversity impacts: Scrubber washwater and ballast water analyses (for toxics/heavy metals), and supplier reporting.
Assessment of exhaust gas cleaning, WESP, and waste disposal. Prioritization uses volume, sensitivity, and operational geography. No key biodiversity impacts or data limitations/gaps identified.
101-6 Direct drivers of biodiversity loss: Marine pollution and invasive species (via ballast water/hull biofouling). No indirect drivers or high-risk suppliers identified. Mitigation measures involve ballast water sterilization and hull cleaning.
301-1 Materials used by weight or volume: Lubricants, bunker fuel, and paint are main materials. 100% virgin materials. Total quantity not disclosed. Percentage of recycled input is n/a. Data source and methodology used is internal reporting.
303-2 Management of water discharge-related impacts: Minimum standards for water discharges based on IMO Marpol Annex I, II, IV, or VI. No local regulations or receiving water bodies. Effluent treatment and monitoring according to regulation, e.g. Ballast Water Management, EGC discharge monitoring.
306-1 Waste generation and significant waste-related impacts: Own operations (OP). Waste types managed according to regulation, and after handling, no significant impacts are expected. Potential impacts identified are limited to CO2 emissions during waste incineration.
306-2 Management of significant waste-related impacts: Actions include offshore incineration and application of garbage management plan for each vessel. Waste handled by third parties follows the waste management plan, as do processes for waste data collection and monitoring, which also includes logging of all waste.
306-3 Waste generated (cbm): Plastics 129.4, food wastes 6.5, domestic waste 296.7, cooking oil 0.8, incinerator ashes 10.5, operational wastes 142.6, e-waste 6.9.
306-4 Waste diverted from disposal: None.
306-5: Waste directed to disposal: Not specified. Disposal methods include incineration and others, with the breakdown and fraction (hazardous/non-hazardous) not specified. Disposal occurs both on-site and off-site, no contextual explanations for regulatory or infrastructure factors.
